Global footballers union condemns Fifa ban on 7 'heritage' players

The International Federation of Professional Footballers (Fifpro) has expressed its support for the seven Harimau Malaya "heritage" players recently suspended over allegations of document forgery.

The organisation claiming to represent over 77,000 professional football players globally criticised the International Federation of Association Football’s (Fifa) 12-month ban on the players from all football-related activities, saying the decision was "grossly disproportionate" given the circumstances of their case.

According to Fifpro, the players had adhered to the required procedures to apply for eligibility to play for the Malaysia team and were the victims in the matter.

"The seven players in question followed the prescribed process: they submitted their personal documents, appeared before Malaysian authorities, undertook oath-taking procedures, received government-issued passports, and awaited the Football Association of Malaysia's (FAM) eligibility clearance.

"All steps were handled by institutions outside their control, yet they now face suspension from their clubs and the serious consequences that follow, through no fault of their own.

"Fifpro expresses its full support for the players and trusts that the Court of Arbitration for Sport will overturn this injustice," it said in a statement.

The statement was published on its website and social media, and has since been reshared by many, including Johor Regent Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim, who is a vocal critic of Fifa’s decision.

‘Wrongly held responsible’

Fifpro said the players also had no means to individually obtain binding confirmation from Fifa regarding their eligibility.

"It is therefore especially troubling that they are being held responsible for submissions made by a national association to Fifa, and that an apparent obligation is put on them to verify documents they neither issue nor submit," it added.

In September, Fifa imposed a fine of 350,000 Swiss francs (RM1.9 million) on FAM, while the seven players - Rodrigo Holgado, Gabriel Felipe Arrocha, Facundo Tomas Garces, Imanol Javier Machuca, Joao Vitor Brandao Figueiredo, Jon Irazabal Iraurgui, and Hector Alejandro Hevel Serrano - were each fined 2,000 Swiss francs.

Fifa said the seven "heritage" players did not have any grandparents born in Malaysia as claimed.

FAM appeal

However, FAM rejected allegations of doctoring documents, arguing that Fifa had not provided evidence to substantiate its allegations.

FAM later filed an appeal with Fifa against the sanctions, claiming a technical error, but it was dismissed on Nov 3.

Fifa later released its appeals committee decision document, which contained damning allegations against the process to grant citizenship to the players.

It includes a claim that the players had passed the requisite Bahasa Malaysia test for their citizenship application despite not speaking the language.

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