Malaysian football risks being banned if FAM sues CAS
Public opinion and experts in Malaysia have called on FAM to stop appealing to CAS. The current sentence includes fines and 12-month suspensions for 7 players; failure could lead to a full ban, according to media warnings.
The biggest risk to Malaysian football right now lies not in the ruling, but in the legal gamble that FAM is considering pursuing: appealing to CAS. Many voices in the country warn that if they lose the case, Malaysia could face a ban from FIFA – a scenario described as a disaster for the entire football ecosystem.
Background: The scandal of 7 naturalized players and the current punishment
The crisis stemmed from an incident involving seven naturalized players. Under FIFA’s current ruling, FAM was fined and the seven players were suspended for 12 months. While harsh, the punishment still allows football activities in Malaysia to continue.
However, FAM's pursuit of an appeal is said to be raising the stakes to a new level. Many domestic opinions believe that this is not the time to bet on an unpredictable legal process.
CAS: a procedural game, limited chance of reversal
Analysis on The Star by journalist T. Avineshwaran stated: CAS is not about reviewing the merits of the case but mainly about assessing the process. The focus of the question is whether FIFA followed its own rules when making the decision.
With a strict legal system like FIFA, the possibility of procedural errors being pointed out is very low. Moreover, FIFA's decision is described as being based on authentic records and evidence - a factor that weakens the argument of "good faith" from FAM when handling player records.
Risk scenarios: from conviction to full embargo
If FAM fails at CAS, the outcome will not stop at upholding the sentence. According to warnings raised by the Malaysian media, the penalty could increase, including the risk of banning the national team from participating in the Asian Cup or future World Cup qualifiers.
Berita Harian even mentioned the possibility of a full-scale ban – a scenario that would see all football activities in Malaysia, from professional to amateur, suspended. For the system of competition, training and sponsorship, this would be an existential shock.
Voices calling for a stop
Public pressure is mounting from many sides. Former FAM Secretary General Seri Azzuddin Ahmad recommends accepting the current ban as a responsible step, instead of pushing the risk to an uncontrollable level by appealing to CAS.
Observer Christopher Raj shares the view, stressing the lack of a strong enough basis to overturn the ruling. According to these opinions, the reasonable priority is to limit losses and focus resources on the recovery phase.
The Narrow Road to Recovery: Acceptance and Reform
The collective call is for a pragmatic goal: to stop the appeal, accept the verdict, and begin the process of reform. The scandal has exposed gaps in management, personnel verification and compliance. It is time for FAM to re-establish transparent, standardized processes, ensuring control of player records and accountability.
Rather than pouring resources into an uncertain legal battle, the less risky option is to rebuild the governance foundations – which is seen as necessary to restore confidence, protect the continuity of the competition system and avoid more severe disciplinary measures from the governing body.
In the current picture, FAM’s problem is no longer “win or lose” at CAS, but risk management for the entire football industry. Cooling down the crisis, reducing losses and reforming to restart – that is the roadmap supported by the majority of voices in the country.
