The Football Association of Malaysia has reiterated its intent to take their case -- where FIFA has sanctioned it for the use of falsified documents to illegally gain citizenship for seven players -- to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
This came shortly after FIFA released a 63-page report for the "motivated decision" that was requested by FAM as the preceding step before they could go to CAS, after their initial appeal was on the punishments imposed on them was dismissed on Nov. 3.
Nonetheless, FIFA's report released on Tuesday not only upheld the sanctions on FAM and the players -- Gabriel Palmero, Facundo Garcés, Rodrigo Holgado, Imanol Machuca, João Figueiredo, Hector Hevel and Jon Irazábal -- but also saw world football's governing body feel compelled to take further action.
FIFA has announced it will launch a formal investigation into FAM's internal operations of the Football Association of Malaysia, as well as notifying criminal authorities of five of countries of forgery offences.
Here's a full timeline of events following the latest developments.
Note: This timeline was originally published on Oct. 6 and has since been updated following FIFA's released of its "motivated decision" on Nov. 18 It will continue to be updated as further developments occur.
MARCH
March 20:
FAM submits inquiry to FIFA regarding Hevel's eligibility to play for Malaysia, with a supporting birth certificate purporting that his grandfather was born in Malacca Straits on Feb. 3, 1933.
FAM submits inquiry to FIFA regarding Palmero's eligibility to play for Malaysia, with a supporting birth certificate purporting that his grandmother in Malacca on May 17, 1956.
March 24:
FIFA sent a letter to FAM regarding the case of Hevel, who -- inter alia -- appeared to be eligible to play for Malaysia based on the information provided.
JUNE
June 6:
FAM submits inquiry to FIFA regarding Garcés' eligibility to play for Malaysia, with a supporting birth certificate purporting that his grandfather was born in Penang on May 29, 1930.
FAM submits inquiry to FIFA regarding Holgado's eligibility to play for Malaysia, with a supporting birth certificate purporting that his grandfather was born in George Town on July 27, 1932.
FAM submits inquiry to FIFA regarding Machuca's eligibility to play for Malaysia, with a supporting birth certificate purporting that his grandmother was born in Penang on Aug. 16, 1954.
FIFA sent a letter to FAM regarding the case of Machuca, who -- inter alia -- appeared to be eligible to play for Malaysia based on the information provided.
FAM submits inquiry to FIFA regarding Figueiredo's eligibility to play for Malaysia, with a supporting birth certificate purporting that his grandmother was born in Johor on Sept. 26, 1931
FAM submits inquiry to FIFA regarding Irazábal's eligibility to play for Malaysia, with a supporting birth certificate purporting that his grandmother was born in Kuching on Feb. 24, 1928.
FIFA sent a letter to FAM regarding the case of Irazábal, who -- inter alia -- appeared to be eligible to play for Malaysia based on the information provided.
June 9:
FIFA sent a letter to FAM regarding the case of Palmero, who -- inter alia -- appeared to be eligible to play for Malaysia based on the information provided.
FIFA sent a letter to FAM regarding the case of Garcés, who -- inter alia -- appeared to be eligible to play for Malaysia based on the information provided.
FIFA sent a letter to FAM regarding the case of Holgado, who -- inter alia -- appeared to be eligible to play for Malaysia based on the information provided.
FIFA sent a letter to FAM regarding the case of Figueiredo, who -- inter alia -- appeared to be eligible to play for Malaysia based on the information provided.
June 10:
All seven players featured in Malaysia's 4-0 win over Vietnam in the AFC Asian Cup qualifiers, with Figueiredo and Holgado scoring in the 49th and 59th minute respectively.
June 11:
FIFA receive formal complaint regarding the eligibility of Palmero, Holgado, Machuca, Irazábal and Hevel. The complainant stated "reason to believe that certain foreign-born players are ineligible to represent the Malaysian national football team", citing that "their naturalisation process and international debut took place within a questionable timeframe". The secretariat for FIFA's disciplinary committee duly opened investigations, with subsequent findings enough for the secretariat to be satisified that forged documents were used.
AUGUST
Aug. 22
Disciplinary proceedings were opened against the FAM and the players.
SEPTEMBER
Sept. 22:
The FAM and the players presented their position.
The secretariat informed FAM and the players that their case had been referred to the disciplinary committee for a formal decision, to be made on Sept. 25.
Sept. 25:
FIFA rule that the FAM and the players have breached Article 22 of the FIFA disciplinary code "for having used forged and/or falsified documents in FIFA proceedings". FAM exercises its right to request a detailed report.
OCTOBER
Oct: 6:
FIFA publishes the full disciplinary report. Shortly after, the FAM announces its intent to lodge a formal appeal.
Oct. 9
By now, with countrywide interest in the matter, Malaysia's Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh weighs in on the saga and states that FIFA's "very serious" findings "tarnish the country's image". While Yeoh urged fans to continue supporting the national team, she acknowledged that it was understandable that supporters were "naturally angry, disappointed and want to see improvements".
Oct. 17
The FAM announce the suspension of secretary-general Noor Azman Rahman with immediate effect, as well as the setting up of an external committee to investigate the matter. FAM deputy president S. Sivasundaram said that the allowal of an independent probe into the scandal was a reflection of the organisation's commitment to transparency and accountability.
Officially designated as the Malaysia national team's CEO, Rob Friend's attempted to provide clarity into the delineation of roles and responsibility within the organisation. Claiming it was "very important to set the record straight and add clarity in terms of roles", Friend explained his and his team's responsibilities were separate from administrative matters, adding: "we are not involved in any registration or documentation." The former Canada international went on to state that his side of the organisation only became involved once the players' 'eligibility' had been secured.
Also present at the news conference was Serge Vittoz, whom the FAM identified as a "top sports lawyer", to spearhead their appeal.
Oct. 25
In a news conference, Tunku Ismail -- a former FAM president and owner of 11-time Malaysia Super League champions Johor Darul Ta'zim -- called for "everyone" at FAM to take responsibility, including Friend. He also insisted that, while there might have been registration mistakes, the documents were not forged.
Tunku Ismail further verified that he had been informed by the Asian Football Confederation that the complaint had not come from the Vietnam Football Federation, which was previously rumoured.
NOVEMBER
Nov. 3
FIFA announce they have dismissed FAM's appeal and will uphold the sanctions that were originally imposed on the organisation and the seven players. They also acknowledge that FAM has ten days to request for a "motivated decision", which would then be followed by a 21-day period for any appeal to CAS.
Expressing surprise at the outcome of their failed appeal, FAM confirms it will be looking to take the case to CAS.
Nov. 18
FIFA release a 63-page report in response to FAM's request for its "motivated decision". In it, FIFA states that it had screenshots of WhatsApp conversations from when several players initially shared copies of their respective grandparent-in-question's birth certificate -- which showed they had not been born in Malaysia.
Futhermore, Palmero -- whose actual name is Gabriel Felipe Arrocha -- was quoted as saying at the hearing: ""My grandfather was born in Venezuela and my grandmother in Spain... I mean Malaysia, sorry." FIFA's report stated that this was "of particular importance".
In upholding the original sanctions imposed on the FAM and the players, FIFA also added that it will now take further action -- including launching a formal investigation into FAM's internal operations, as well as informing competent criminal authorities of Malaysia, along with Brazil, Argentina, the Netherlands and Spain -- where the players' grandparents-in-question were stated to have hailed from in the phony documents -- about potential criminal offences.
In response, FAM responded with a brief 127-word release later declaring that it had accepted FIFA's reasoning behind rejecting its appeal and will initiate proceedings to bring the case before CAS -- "to ensure justice is upheld and to uphold the integrity of the player eligibility process".