FIFA punished the Malaysian association by considering it a loser with a score of 0-3 in three matches due to a scandal related to the eligibility of the players, according to a report on Wednesday by national football authorities.
The Malaysian Football Association explained that the results of the three friendly matches at home, which resulted in a draw with Cape Verde 1-1 on May 29, and victories over Singapore 2-1 on September 4 and over Palestine 1-0 four days later, were annulled.
FIFA had suspended in September seven national team players born abroad due to forged documents claiming they had Malaysian ancestry.
Previously, the Malaysian association was fined $440,000, and has now received an additional penalty of $12,500.
The authority stated that a FIFA Disciplinary Committee meeting on Friday decided that "Malaysia is considered a loser with a score of 0-3 in the three matches."
FIFA had opened an investigation after receiving a complaint following Malaysia's 4-0 win over Vietnam in June during the Asian Cup qualifiers, where two of the seven players scored.
The investigation showed that none of Hector Heivel, John Irasabal, Gabriel Ballebero, Facundo Garciz, Rodrigo Holgado, Imanol Machuka, or Joao Brandao Figueiredo had a father or grandfather born in Malaysia, a basic requirement for representing the national team.
The Malaysian association denied any wrongdoing and vowed to appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
The International Federation of Professional Footballers (FIFPro) stated that the seven players involved in the Malaysian team eligibility scandal were themselves victims, and that suspending them for 12 months is "completely disproportionate."
It said in a statement, "The sanctions imposed on them are completely disproportionate to the particular circumstances of this case," adding "it is clear that the players are indeed victims in this case."
It continued, "All steps were taken through institutions over which they have no control, and yet they now face suspension from playing with their clubs, with serious consequences resulting from no fault of their own."
