SHAH ALAM – The seven Harimau Malaya ‘heritage players’ suspended by FIFA over document irregularities may pursue compensation from the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) for lost income, following the association’s admission of an administrative error that contributed to their 12-month bans.
According to sources, the players were evaluating legal options after FAM acknowledged that its administrative staff made a technical mistake in the document-submission process, which ultimately led to FIFA imposing 12-month bans from all football-related activities.
“Foreign lawyers are understood to be in talks with the seven players, who are considering legal action against FAM over the technical mistake the association has acknowledged.
“They can do so and it would not be surprising, given the financial impact of the bans. A compensation claim would also help clear their names and make it easier for them to find new clubs after the suspension,” the source told the New Straits Times.
The seven players—Gabriel Palmero, Facundo Garcés, Rodrigo Holgado, Imanol Machuca, Joao Figueiredo, Jon Irazabal and Hector Hevel—were each fined 2,000 Swiss francs (approximately RM10,800) in addition to the 12-month suspension.
FIFA found them in breach of Article 22 of its Disciplinary Code, which relates to falsified documents. Reports indicate that some of the players may have already suffered financial losses as clubs reconsidered or terminated their contracts in response to the suspensions.
The legal consultations were understood to be part of a strategy to seek restitution for those financial impacts.