PETALING JAYA, Nov. 17 -- Fifa has instructed its secretariat to notify criminal authorities in Malaysia and other countries to investigate alleged document forgery involving seven naturalised football players, saying falsifying official papers is an offence "in virtually all jurisdictions."

Free Malaysia Today (FMT) reported that in a written judgment dismissing an appeal by the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM), the world football governing body described the integrity of official documents as "sacrosanct" and said their falsification is punishable.

Authorities in Brazil, Argentina, the Netherlands and Spain have also been alerted.

"It is imperative that the relevant authorities are informed so that appropriate criminal investig...