FIFA overturns three Malaysia matches amid player eligibility scandal

Sign up now: Get the biggest sports news in your inbox

The scandal has sparked uproar in Malaysia, with fans and some lawmakers calling for action against the Football Association of Malaysia.

PHOTO: REUTERS

KUALA LUMPUR – FIFA has overturned the results of three Malaysia matches after finding they had fielded ineligible players, the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) said on Dec 17, in the latest setback for the team amid a widening

document forgery scandal

FIFA had

suspended seven naturalised players

Football’s world governing body dismissed an appeal by FAM in November, saying it would launch a formal probe into the association’s internal operations and notify the authorities in five countries of potential criminal proceedings.

FAM said in response it would bring the case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

In its latest decision, FIFA’s disciplinary committee also changed the results of three friendlies the players had appeared in, handing down 3-0 defeats for games against Cape Verde on May 29,

Singapore on Sept 4

The association has also been fined 10,000 Swiss francs.

Malaysia had drawn 1-1 with Cape Verde and earned 2-1 and 1-0 wins over Singapore and Palestine.

“FAM will make a written application to obtain the reasons for the decision from the FIFA disciplinary committee before considering the next steps to be taken in this matter,” the association said.

FIFA did