KUALA LUMPUR, Dec. 2 -- Global players' union FIFpro has criticised the Fifa Appeal Committee's decision to impose year-long bans on seven footballers who sought eligibility to represent Malaysia, calling the punishment "grossly disproportionate" given the circumstances.

In a statement, the organisation said the players were effectively "victims", noting that Fifa itself acknowledged they had not forged documents, and that all papers submitted were authentic.

FIFpro argued it was implausible that not fewer than seven players could have independently produced problematic documents, adding that eligibility verification is a process handled by national associations, not individual players.

It stressed that players have no mechanism to dir...