Malaysia FA Executive Committee Resigns Over Forgery Scandal

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia — The entire executive committee of the Football Association of Malaysia resigned on Wednesday, stepping down amid a deepening scandal over forged documents used to naturalize seven foreign-born players for the national team.

The unanimous and voluntary decision came just 11 months after the committee's election for the 2025-2029 term. Acting FAM President Yusoff Mahadi stated that the resignations aimed to protect the association's reputation and institutional interests while mitigating risks of further penalties that could harm Malaysian football overall. "The resignations will provide the appropriate space for FIFA and the Asian Football Confederation to independently assess, review, and, where necessary, address governance, administrative, and procedural matters within FAM," Mahadi said.

The crisis erupted following a June Asian Cup qualifier in which Malaysia defeated Vietnam 4-0. FIFA launched an investigation after receiving a complaint, uncovering that the association had submitted false documents claiming the players had Malaysian ancestry through grandparents. The seven players — Facundo Garces from Argentina, Rodrigo Holgado and Imanol Machuca...