According to Windsor, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) was notified by FIFA immediately following the match between Malaysia and Vietnam on June 10, 2025, at Bukit Jalil Stadium.

“We were informed by FIFA because this is a tournament under the AFC system,” he told Malaysian newspaper Stadium Astro. “FIFA said they were investigating seven players immediately after the match, because there was a complaint from Vietnam.”

The Group F encounter ended in a resounding 4-0 victory for Malaysia, snapping an 11-year winless streak against their regional rivals.

However, the historic result was quickly overshadowed by controversy regarding the legal status of seven foreign-born stars in the Malaysia squad.

Windsor’s comments align with earlier statements from acting president of the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM), Yusoff Mahadi, who noted in October 2025 that Vietnam and Nepal had filed complaints regarding document falsification of the seven Malaysia players.

This clarification contradicts earlier denials from the Regent of Johor and Malaysian club Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) owner, Tunku Ismail Idris, regarding the Vietnam Football Federation’s involvement.

“It was the first time we received information directly from FIFA,” Windsor added. “After that, we waited for the results of the investigation because normally this process takes place between FIFA and the member federation, in this case, FAM.”

Following a verification process, FIFA issued a 12-month ban on the seven players in September 2025 for using falsified documents to secure national team eligibility. The AFC was informed of the disciplinary action only after the ruling was handed down.

The seven suspended players are Joao Figueiredo, Rodrigo Holgado, Imanol Machuca, Facundo Garces, Jon Irazabal, Gabriel Palmero, and Hector Hevel. The ban officially took effect on Sept. 26, 2025.

The sanctions have since pushed FAM into a legal battle at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). FAM filed a lawsuit on Dec. 8, 2025, and by late January 2026, CAS granted a request for a temporary suspension of the sentence, allowing the players to return to competition pending a final verdict, which is expected after the court hearing on Feb. 26.