He said the decision taken by FIFA against the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) is strictly between the two bodies. However, the issue concerning the citizenship status of certain players falls under the purview of his ministry.

“The process is rigorous. The committee, chaired by the secretary-general, carefully scrutinises every application,” he told a press conference after an event in Sandakan, Sabah, today.

“We meticulously examine all the documents submitted, as required by law, and in this particular case, all the procedures were fully complied with,” he said, adding that the matter fell under Article 19(1) of the Federal Constitution.

FAM and seven national players have been sanctioned by FIFA after the global football body said the association had submitted doctored documentation to field the players in an Asian Cup qualifier.

The players involved are Gabriel Felipe Arrocha, Facundo Tomas Garcés, Rodrigo Julian Holgado, Imanol Javier Machuca, Joao Vitor Brandão Figueiredo, Jon Irazabal Iraurgui and Hector Alejandro Hevel Serrano.

All seven players featured in Malaysia’s Asian Cup 2027 qualifier against Vietnam on June 10, after which FIFA received a complaint regarding the eligibility of several of them.

Nine of the team’s starting 11 in the game were naturalised players, with five of them – Figueiredo, Holgado, Irazabal, Garces and Machuca – receiving FIFA clearance just hours before kick-off.

FAM confirmed that it received an official notification from FIFA over its alleged breach of Article 22 of the body’s disciplinary code, which relates to forgery and falsification.

Its acting president, Yusoff Mahadi, said the association will appeal against the decision, stressing that it had followed procedures and guidelines as required by FIFA in managing the players’ documentation.

He also said FIFA had previously reviewed and officially cleared the players’ eligibility to represent Malaysia.