Kuala lumpur: Seven footballers have been banned for one year each by the ruling body FIFA because they played for Malaysia’s national team with the help of forged documents. FIFA also fined the Malaysian Football Association (FAM) 350,000 Swiss francs ($439,000), and each player 2,000 Swiss francs for the incident in connection with an Asian Cup qualifier against Vietnam on June 10 which Malaysia won 4-0.

According to Ghana News Agency, FIFA said it received a complaint regarding the eligibility of foreign-born players Malaysia players Gabriel Felipe Arrocha, Facundo Tom¡s Garc©s, Rodrigo Juli¡n Holgado, Imanol Javier Machuca, Joo Vitor Brando Figueiredo, Jon Iraz¡bal Iraurgui and Hector Alejandro Hevel Serrano. It said its disciplinary committee found out that ‘the FAM had submitted eligibility enquiries to FIFA, and in doing so, it used doctored documentation to be able to field the above players.’

The sanctions were imposed for violations of FIFA rules regarding ‘forgery and falsification’. The match result could also be overturned. FIFA said that the case has been referred to its football tribunal for consideration, while the FAM and the players have 10 days to appeal the ruling.