Why hasn't FIFA announced the ruling on Malaysia's appeal?

FIFA has yet to announce its ruling on the appeals from the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) and seven naturalized players following penalties related to procedural irregularities. According to legal experts, this silence reflects the complexity of the case and internal workings, and is not an unusual sign.

Reasons for the delay from a legal perspective.

After receiving the penalty, FAM promptly filed an appeal. Their lawyers had previously stated that a decision could be made by the end of October, but no official announcement has been made yet. Sports lawyer Nik Erman Nik Roseli stated that this is a normal development in complex cases, requiring time for a thorough assessment.

He told Astro: "There could be several reasons why FIFA hasn't made a decision yet. First, they need more time to carefully consider the facts and legal arguments presented by the parties involved." According to him, reviewing the files and comparing the arguments between the parties is a mandatory step before the competent authority can reach a final conclusion.

Workload and requirements for drafting decisions

Nik Erman Nik Roseli added: "They also need time to carefully draft their decision." FIFA's appeals committee often handles multiple cases simultaneously, so progress can be affected by the workload and the standard procedures to ensure legal soundness.

FIFA does not set a fixed timeframe.

Sports expert Datuk Pekan Ramli highlighted another crucial factor: FIFA does not set deadlines for rulings. He said, "I think FIFA didn't say they would make a decision that day. All we know is that the meeting took place on that day." This means that after the meeting, there are still internal review and approval steps before the results are announced.

Post-meeting process and public expectations

Following a meeting, the process of drafting, soliciting feedback, and obtaining final approval often takes a long time, especially when there are many documents and arguments to compare. Therefore, a delay between the meeting and the publication is common, regardless of initial expectations from the parties involved.

Impact related to AFC and the 2027 Asian Cup

Meanwhile, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) is closely monitoring developments to ensure the tournament schedule remains unaffected. According to reports, the AFC is expected to make its decision before March 31st next year to avoid impacting the draw for the 2027 Asian Cup. This is a crucial deadline for maintaining the stability of the organization.

The overall picture

A synthesis of expert opinions reveals three pillars contributing to the prolonged process: the complexity of the case and arguments, the workload of the FIFA Appeals Committee, and the lack of a mandatory timeframe for the ruling. Given this context, the current delay is considered consistent with common practice in handling similar cases in international football.

Until an official announcement is made, the parties involved in Malaysia and the fans will have to continue waiting. Any new developments, especially the timelines related to the AFC's organizational work, will be important indicators of when the matter is nearing its conclusion.