Malaysia has not yet appealed to CAS, awaiting a decision from FIFA.
FAM has temporarily postponed submitting its application to CAS until it receives FIFA's explanation regarding the 350,000 Swiss franc fine and the 12-month ban on 7 naturalized players; risk of losing 0-3 to Vietnam and Nepal.
The Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) has yet to file an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), opting instead to await a detailed explanation from FIFA after the heavy penalty was upheld. This cautious decision comes as the national team faces the risk of being handed a 0-3 forfeit loss in two 2027 Asian Cup qualifying matches against Vietnam and Nepal, while the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) awaits the final ruling before deciding on further action.
Why hasn't FAM appealed to CAS?
According to local media, FAM asserted that it would only initiate proceedings at CAS once it received sufficient legal grounds and detailed reasons for the sanctions from FIFA. FAM's acting president, Datuk Yusoff Mahadi, emphasized: “We are awaiting the detailed explanation. Until we receive the complete documentation from FIFA, FAM cannot respond or take any further steps.”
This approach aims to minimize legal risks and preserve the federation's position in a case that could have a wide-ranging impact on the national team as well as continental competitions.
FIFA's sanctions: the key figures.
- On November 3rd, FIFA rejected FAM's initial appeal, upholding the 350,000 Swiss franc fine imposed on the federation.
- Seven naturalized players have been banned from playing for 12 months: Gabriel Palmero, Facundo Garces, Rodrigo Holgado, Imanol Machuca, Joao Figueiredo, Jon Irazabal, and Hector Hevel.
- Each player was fined an additional 2,000 Swiss francs for allegedly falsifying documents in their files.
These decisions put FAM in a position where it must be well-prepared for any further legal action, as all arguments at CAS must adhere closely to FIFA's written explanation.
Immediate impact on the Malaysian national team in the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers.
While the AFC awaits the results from CAS to determine its own course of action, the Malaysian national team faces the almost certain risk of being handed a 0-3 defeat in two crucial matches against Vietnam and Nepal in the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers. This risk puts significant pressure on the team's match plans, personnel, and competitive goals during this critical period.
At the operational level, the absence of the group of players banned for 12 months also forces the parties involved to carefully consider how to organize personnel, although the final decision still depends on the legal process.
CAS, the 21-day deadline, and the role of the AFC.
After FAM receives the explanation from FIFA, the federation will have 21 days to file a formal appeal with CAS. This is a crucial deadline, determining the possibility of reopening the case at the international sports refereeing level.
In the meantime, the AFC maintained a wait-and-see approach, only issuing its own decision after the CAS reached a conclusion. This delay plunged Malaysian football into a period of uncertainty: it needed to ensure compliance with procedures while simultaneously preparing the national team for various scenarios ahead of the continental competition.
The overall picture: caution is needed to preserve opportunities.
The postponement of the appeal shows that FAM prioritizes "following the proper procedures" to build a complete dossier rather than acting hastily. With the financial and disciplinary penalties already stated, any further action will revolve around FIFA's explanation and the 21-day deadline. Until CAS speaks, Malaysian football will remain in a state of waiting, with decisions that could shape the remainder of the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers.