
Photo Credit: Getty Images
In a scathing accusation, FIFA has alleged that Malaysia engaged in "pure and simple, a form of cheating" by falsifying citizenship documents for seven foreign-born players on its national team. FIFA, which had already fined and suspended the players, claims the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) forged birth certificates to falsely indicate that the players' grandparents were born in Malaysia. FAM, however, insists the discrepancies were due to an "administrative error" and plans to appeal FIFA's penalties, asserting that the players are "legitimate Malaysian citizens.”