Malaysia faces difficulties winning against FIFA at the CAS, experts warn.
Datuk Kamarul believes FAM will find it difficult to win against FIFA at CAS. Over the past two years, 54 similar cases have all resulted in losses; the 350,000 Swiss franc fine and 12-month ban for seven players remain unchanged.
"Only a miracle" – that's how Datuk Kamarul Ariffin Mohd Shahar describes the chances of the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) appealing against FIFA's ruling to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). According to this expert, the available facts make the likelihood of overturning the ruling almost zero, turning the pursuit of the case into a waste of time and money.
Context and FIFA's decision
Previously, FIFA's Disciplinary Committee rejected FAM's appeal and upheld the 350,000 Swiss franc fine and a 12-month ban for seven naturalized players accused of using forged documents. These players had been used in matches during the 2027 Asian Cup Qualifiers.
With the above conclusion, FIFA has shown that the case file and grounds for handling the matter are strengthened, making the chances of a reversal at the CAS level extremely slim. Datuk Kamarul believes that continuing the lawsuit would not bring any practical benefits to FAM.
Statistics against FAM at CAS
The strongest basis for Datuk Kamarul's pessimistic argument is the number of similar lawsuits: "In the past two years, all 54 cases brought against FIFA before the CAS have ended in failure. Not a single case has resulted in a victory. This also means that FIFA's evidence is quite solid."
This statistic highlights the unfavorable context: when the sanctioned party cannot provide sufficiently strong legal grounds to refute FIFA's arguments and evidence, the possibility of reversing the ruling is virtually nonexistent.
The impact and subsequent choices of FAM
Datuk Kamarul stated that FAM's priority at this time is not to prolong the litigation, but to restore credibility and integrity in its management. Rebuilding trust from domestic fans and international partners is seen as a crucial step for Malaysian football to overcome the crisis and move towards a more sustainable future.
This perspective also reflects reality: when legal risks at the CAS level are too great, resources should be allocated to internal measures – from strengthening the legal vetting process for player profiles and tightening governance to increasing transparency – in order to limit the recurrence of mistakes and gradually restore trust.
Key figures
- 350,000 Swiss francs: the fine for FAM remains unchanged.
- 12 months: a ban from competing applies to 7 naturalized players.
- 7 players accused of using forged documents.
- 54 lawsuits in two years: according to Datuk Kamarul, all failed when suing FIFA at the CAS.
- 2027 Asian Cup Qualifiers: the context of matches involving players accused of wrongdoing.
