Malaysian FA execs quit after fielding three Spaniards, two Argentinians, a Dutchman and a Brazilian in 4-0 victory over Vietnam

The entire executive committee of the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) have quit after fielding three Spanish players, two Argentinians, a Dutchman and a Brazilian in a 4-0 victory over Vietnam. The officials resigned on Wednesday after a scandal involving the naturalization of seven foreign-born players led to FIFA sanctions, a court appeal and intensified scrutiny of the country’s soccer governance. All committee members, elected 11 months ago for the 2025-2029 term, stepped down with immediate effect in a unanimous and voluntary decision in order to protect the association’s credibility. The mass resignation followed FIFA’s decision last September to fine the association about 326,000 and suspending the seven players for a year after determining that fake documents had been filed to support their naturalization. The players – Facundo Garcs, Rodrigo Holgado, Imanol Machuca, Joo Figueiredo, Gabriel Palmero, Jon Irazabal and Hctor Hevel- were also fined individually. The seven, who originate from Argentina, Brazil, the Netherlands and Spain, went on to play for Malaysia, including in a qualifying match for the 2027 Asian Cup that Malaysia won against Vietnam. Malaysian officials had maintained that all seven players were eligible under FIFA rules because each had a grandparent born in Malaysia. FIFA, however, said its investigators obtained original documents from the players’ countries of origin that contradicted those claims. In a statement on Wednesday, FAM said the committee had been elected for a four-year mandate covering the 2025-2029 term and the decision to resign after just 11 months demonstrated that service to Malaysian soccer takes precedence over holding office. The mass resignation was intended to safeguard the association’s reputation and mitigate further consequences for Malaysian football, it said. It would allow FIFA and the Asian Football Confederation to review governance, administrative and procedural matters within FAM, and ensure any reforms can be undertaken without distraction or perceived conflicts of interest, it added. ‘The executive committee recognizes the importance of collective responsibility and the need to act in a manner that protects the integrity and standing of the association,’ the statement read. FAM said the move was aimed at restoring confidence among supporters, stakeholders and the wider football community, emphasizing that institutional credibility is essential to the stability and future development of the sport in Malaysia. The outgoing leadership will fully cooperate with FIFA, the AFC and other stakeholders. No timeline was announced for interim leadership or new elections. The post Malaysian FA execs quit after fielding three Spaniards, two Argentinians, a Dutchman and a Brazilian in 4-0 victory over Vietnam appeared first on Linda Ikeji Blog.