"Fifa said the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) had forged birth certificates to make it look like the players' grandparents were born in Malaysia. This, the body said, "constitutes, pure and simple, a form of cheating". But FAM said the discrepancies arose from an "administrative error" and that it would appeal Fifa's penalties. It maintained that the players were "legitimate Malaysian citizens"."
"Fifa's "grandfather rule" allows foreign-born football players to represent countries that their biological parents or grandparents were born in. This aims to prevent national football teams from simply importing foreign players to boost performance. Fifa investigated the players following Malaysia's 4-0 win against Vietnam in June, in response to questions about their eligibility. In September, the Fifa disciplinary committee suspended the seven players for a year and ordered them to pay a fine of 2,000 Swiss francs ($2,500; 1,870)."
FIFA accused the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) of falsifying birth certificates to show grandparents of seven foreign-born players were born in Malaysia. FIFA said the forged documents "constitute, pure and simple, a form of cheating" and obtained original records indicating the grandparents were born elsewhere. The seven players received one-year suspensions and 2,000 Swiss franc fines each; FAM was ordered to pay 350,000 Swiss francs. FAM described the discrepancies as an "administrative error", maintained the players' Malaysian citizenship, and said it would appeal. The case follows regional drives to naturalise foreign-born players.
Read at www.bbc.com
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