MACC will not look further into allegations that the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) had doctored documents to allow seven foreign footballers on the national team.

Instead, it will let FAM sort the matter - which involved granting citizenship to the athletes - with the International Federation of Association Football (Fifa).

The graftbusters said it had met with both the Home Ministry and National Registration Department (NRD) and reviewed several documents regarding the citizenship applications and registrations of the players.

"Based on the initial checks, the MACC stresses that this issue appears to relate to a technical process and does not fall under the MACC's purview. No offence as per the MACC Act has been identified thus far.

"As such, the MACC will not contact Fifa, and will leave the matter to FAM to solve," it said in a statement today.

Forgery claims

On Friday, Fifa revealed that it had imposed sanctions against FAM and seven players for breaches of Article 22 of the Fifa Disciplinary Code on forgery and falsification.

The players involved - Gabriel Felipe Arrocha, Facundo Tomas Garces, Rodrigo Julian Holgado, Imanol Javier Machuca, Joao Vitor Brandao Figueiredo, Jon Irazabal Iraurgui and Hector Alejandro Hevel Serrano - were also hit with a 12-month suspension from all football-related activities.

The seven joined the Malaysian football team on the basis of being "heritage players" - footballers who have some familial link to Malaysia.

The FAM is appealing the decision.

Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said that the septet had received their citizenship after a thorough vetting process, and that all citizenship laws had been followed.

READ MORE: COMMENT | Fifa's red card: Naturalised players, national team in crisis

Critics have questioned, among others, why footballers could get citizenship when the process is difficult for stateless Malaysians who were born in the country to at least one Malaysian parent.

COMMENT | Fifa's red card: Naturalised players, national team in crisis

COMMENT | Fifa's red card: Naturalised players, national team in crisis

Let FAM complete appeal against Fifa sanction - Yeoh

Let FAM complete appeal against Fifa sanction - Yeoh

Saifuddin: Football players received citizenship after due process

Saifuddin: Football players received citizenship after due process

FAM must answer for Fifa sanctions, not just appeal - PN

FAM must answer for Fifa sanctions, not just appeal - PN

COMMENT | Instant citizenship, heritage players poison M'sian football

COMMENT | Instant citizenship, heritage players poison M'sian football