FIFA rejects appeal, Malaysian media calls on FAM

FIFA has rejected the appeal regarding the document fraud scandal of 7 naturalized players, plunging Malaysian football into crisis. Domestic media and former player Safee Sali called on the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) to accept the truth and focus on reform, instead of continuing to pursue the lawsuit at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) with the possibility of success being assessed as very low.

FIFA rejects appeal, risk of losing in 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers

FIFA’s decision could see Malaysia lose their 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers. If they fail at CAS, Malaysia will almost certainly lose 0-3 to Vietnam and Nepal, and face the risk of receiving heavier penalties, including the possibility of being banned from future international tournaments.

Last hope is placed on CAS, but the door is narrow

FAM now places its last hope on CAS. However, domestic media and experts assess the possibility of overturning the ruling as slim, stressing that the priority should be to stabilize the system and rebuild trust, rather than pursuing a protracted legal battle with great risks.

New Straits Times: 'Own goal of the most serious kind'

The New Straits Times described the incident as a"the most serious own goal"and affirm"deception is unacceptable". The article also emphasized the feelings of the fans:"For Malaysian fans, they can forgive defeat, but what they cannot forgive is the feeling of being cheated".

Safee Sali: 'We should accept mistakes and learn from them'

Former AFF Cup 2010 champion Safee Sali told The Star that pursuing the case at CAS was largely fruitless. He said:"Fighting FIFA at CAS may not be effective. We should accept our mistakes and learn from them"This view is in line with the general voice of the domestic media: facing reality to rebuild.

Impact and calls for reform

The incident has shaken the foundation of fan confidence and put the team at a disadvantage in the continental arena. In a context where the penalty can directly affect competition results and the right to participate in international tournaments, the focus is called on reform and strengthening of management capacity, to prevent similar violations.

FAM is still determined to pursue the lawsuit.

Despite numerous calls to stop, FAM has announced that it will pursue the lawsuit to the end. This puts Malaysian football in an uncertain future, as all results are tied to the final decision from CAS, while professional and image risks still exist.