Malaysia's FIFA appeal faces uphill battle after Argentine revelation

PETALING JAYA: Malaysia's appeal to FIFA over the suspension of seven naturalised players appears to have little chance of success after Argentine media revealed new evidence contradicting key ancestry claims.

According to Argentine news outlet CDN, official records show that Facundo Garcés' grandfather was born in Santa Fe, Argentina and not Malaysia as stated in documents submitted by the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) to FIFA.

The finding supports FIFA's investigation into falsified ancestry papers that led to a one-year suspension for the seven players involved.

FIFA's report said the FAM had submitted altered birth certificates suggesting that several players, including Garces and Velez Sarsfield midfielder Imanol Machuca, have Malaysian-born grandparents.

CDN's probe found Garces' grandfather, Carlos Rogelio Fernandez, was born on May 29, 1930, in Villa María Selva, Santa Fe, and has no Malaysian ties.

Similarly, Machuca's grandmother, who was claimed to be from Penang, was actually born in Roldan, also in Santa Fe province.

Other players banned include Rodrigo Holgado (Argentina), Jon Irazabal and Gabriel Palmero (Spain), Joao Figueiredo (Brazil) and Hector Hevel (Holland).

FIFA handed all seven players 12-month suspensions after confirming their eligibility was based on falsified ancestry records.

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