'Negligence, not forgery': FAM waves sec-gen back onto the pitch
Published: Jan 8, 2026 5:51 PM
Updated: 8:52 PM
The Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) has lifted the suspension of its secretary-general, Noor Azman Rahman, who the local body cleared of wrongdoing involving the alleged document forgery of seven “heritage” players in the national team.
In a statement today, FAM said Azman (above) was only found to have committed “administrative negligence” and was thus allowed to resume his duties with immediate effect.
FAM noted that the lifting of Azman’s suspension was determined during a disciplinary committee meeting yesterday, following an FAM executive committee meeting on Dec 22 last year, which discussed the findings of an independent investigation committee (IIC).
The IIC was formed to probe the alleged falsification of citizenship documents linked to the seven players, with the issue resulting in sanctions from the International Federation of Association Football (Fifa).
“The FAM disciplinary committee, chaired by Baljit Singh Sidhu, met and, after taking into account the period of suspension imposed on (Azman) and also the IIC report… decided to return him to his duties as FAM secretary-general with immediate effect.
“With this latest decision, it shows that Azman is only involved in administrative negligence, and is not guilty or involved in document forgery,” FAM said today.
On Dec 22, FAM acting president Yusoff Mahadi said Fifa had sought to examine Azman’s roles, responsibilities, and involvement, particularly the flow and handling of documents, in relation to its probe on the alleged citizenship documentary falsification.
Yusoff also noted that Azman’s case has additionally been referred to the “relevant government department”.
IIC report
In its report published on Dec 16, the IIC found that FAM lacked proper internal oversight, recommending disciplinary proceedings for Azman, who was previously suspended on Oct 17.
The panel said FAM’s legal manager, Zainul Ariffin, had uploaded the players’ documents to Fifa’s legal portal, under instructions from Azman.
However, the IIC found that the latter’s instructions were delivered without confirming the documents’ authenticity, despite the original handwritten birth records being unavailable from the National Registration Department.
Fifa had earlier initiated an investigation into FAM and seven Harimau Malaya players - Gabriel Felipe Arrocha, Facundo Garces, Rodrigo Holgado, Imanol Manchuca, Joao Figueiredo, Jon Irazabal, and Hector Hevel.
The global football body’s probes found that FAM had submitted allegedly falsified documents to confirm the eligibility of the players, allowing them to compete in the third-round match of the 2027 Asian Cup Qualifiers on June 10, where Malaysia won 4-0 against Vietnam.
The global football body’s probes found that FAM had submitted allegedly falsified documents to confirm the eligibility of the players, allowing them to compete in the third-round match of the 2027 Asian Cup Qualifiers on June 10, where Malaysia won 4-0 against Vietnam.
The seven ‘heritage’ players
Consequently, FAM was ordered to pay a fine of 350,000 Swiss francs (about RM1.8 million), while each player was fined 2,000 Swiss francs and suspended from all football-related activities for 12 months.
Following the Fifa Appeal Committee’s Nov 3 rejection of an appeal filed by FAM and the players, which claimed a technical error, FAM had on Dec 8 submitted its Statement of Appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
Consequently, FAM was ordered to pay a fine of 350,000 Swiss francs (about RM1.8 million), while each player was fined 2,000 Swiss francs and suspended from all football-related activities for 12 months.
Following the Fifa Appeal Committee’s Nov 3 rejection of an appeal filed by FAM and the players, which claimed a technical error, FAM had on Dec 8 submitted its Statement of Appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
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JK Rowling can learn from this
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