World’s football governing body, FIFA, has suspended seven Malaysia national team players for 12 months and fined the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) 350,000 Swiss francs after discovering that document submitted to naturalize the players were forged.

The affected players include: Gabriel Felipe Arrocha, Jon Irazabel Iraurgui, Facundo Tomah Garces, Rodrigo Julien Holgado, Imanol Javier Machuca, Joao Vitor Brandao Figueiredo, and Hector Alejandro Hevrl Serrano, all of whom played in Malaysia’s 4:0 win over Vietnam in a 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers.

FIFA also announced that the players eligibility will be further investigated, and that the match result may be overturned.

Reacting to the suspension, the FAM said it would appeal the decision.

The body said it would “use all available legal channels and procedures to ensure that the interests of the players and the Malaysian national team are always protected’.

The Malaysia currently top their 2027 Asia Cup qualifying group with six points from two matches, pending any further FIFA sanctions.