FIFA overturns three matches over players’ eligibility as Super Eagles wait

FIFA has punished Malaysia with three 3-0 defeats in threematches after they were found guilty of fielding ineligible players. This was confirmed by the Football Association of Malaysia,FAM, on Wednesday. The results involved includes victories in friendly matchesagainst Palestine and Singapore and a draw with Cape Verde. FIFA suspended the seven players who submitted forgeddocuments claiming they had Malaysian ancestry. The FAM, who were previously hit with a $440,000 fine, willpay a further $12,500 as part of their punishment. FIFA began the investigation after receiving a complaintfollowing Malaysia’s 4-0 win against Vietnam in June in an Asian Cup qualifier,a game where two of the seven affected players scored. The investigation revealed that none of Hector Hevel, JonIrazabal, Gabriel Palmero, Facundo Garces, Rodrigo Holgado, Imanol Machuca, orJoao Brandao Figueiredo had a parent or grandparent born in Malaysia, arequirement for selection to a national team. This comes as the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, havesent a complaint to FIFA insisting the Democratic Republic of Congo usedineligible players for their 2026 World Cup qualifying game. The Leopards beat the Super Eagles in the African play-offsvia penalties and are getting ready to play in the intercontinental play-offfinal.

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