KUALA LUMPUR — The Football Association of Malaysia (FAM), which has already lodged its appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), now has 10 days to finalise and file its full written arguments as it challenges FIFA’s sanctions on the national body and seven ‘heritage’ footballers.
FAM acting president Datuk Yusoff Mahadi said the association’s legal team has been given until December 18 to complete the submission.
“FAM is fully committed to handling this process professionally and transparently, with respect for all established legal procedures,” Yusoff said when contacted.
“Further developments will be announced in due course.”
The confirmation comes as the latest turn in a saga that has gripped Malaysian football, following FIFA’s findings of irregularities in the registration documents of seven naturalised players — Joao Figueiredo, Rodrigo Holgado, Gabriel Palmero, Imanol Machuca, Facundo Garces, Jon Irazabal and Hector Hevel — for international duty.
The punishments were heavy as FAM was fined 350,000 Swiss francs (RM1.9 million), while each player received a 12-month ban and a 2,000 Swiss franc (RM10,600) fine.
FAM’s initial appeal to FIFA was rejected, making CAS the final avenue for recourse and the association stressed that the appeal has indeed been filed, amid public confusion triggered by a CAS spokesperson’s remark last week that no appeal had been received from Malaysia.
The association said the matter is now formally before CAS and proceeding within the stipulated timeline. – December 8, 2025