KUALA LUMPUR – The Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) is prepared to accept whatever decision is made by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) over the dispute involving the documentation of seven heritage players, said its Acting President, Datuk Mohd Yusoff Mahadi.
Yusoff was speaking to reporters after the memorandum of understanding exchange ceremony between Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) Specialist Centre and FAM at the Tuanku Muhriz Chancellor Hospital (HCTM) auditorium today.
“As for whether we win or lose, we leave that entirely to CAS to determine,” Yusoff said, stressing that the arbitration body is independent and its ruling will be final and binding on all parties involved.
He said FAM is currently finalising its written submissions and is confident of meeting the December 18 deadline set by CAS.
“At the moment, our legal experts are preparing all the necessary documents. I believe we are able to fulfil the procedures required by CAS by December 18,” he said.
Yusoff added that FAM’s engagement with FIFA has effectively concluded, with the association having exhausted all available avenues at the world governing body level.
“I think we are already done at the FIFA stage and there is nothing further involving FIFA. CAS is the final process for us to pursue, and it is up to CAS as an independent body,” he said.
“CAS is not bound by FIFA, and whatever decision it makes must be complied with, whether by us or by FIFA. It is final. If we do not go to CAS, then from a legal perspective, we would not have fully completed the process.
“We are not thinking about risks. We are simply going through the legal process until the end,” he added.
FAM had earlier confirmed that it had submitted an appeal to CAS against sanctions imposed by FIFA over documentation issues involving seven heritage players — Gabriel Palmero, Facundo Garces, Rodrigo Holgado, Imanol Machuca, Joao Figueiredo, Jon Irazabal and Hector Hevel.
The appeal was lodged after FIFA released the full 64-page grounds of decision by its Appeals Committee, following its November 3 ruling that rejected the appeals filed by FAM and the seven players.
Under that decision, the 350,000 Swiss Franc (approximately RM1.8 million) fine imposed on FAM by FIFA’s Disciplinary Committee in September remains, while the seven players were suspended for 12 months and fined 2,000 Swiss Franc (about RM10,000) each.
Meanwhile, Yusoff said the findings of the Independent Committee established by FAM to investigate the issue are expected to be known as early as next week.
He said the committee, chaired by former Chief Justice Tun Md Raus Sharif, is in the final stages of completing its work and its report is anticipated within the month.
“We are still awaiting the report from Tun Raus, and I expect we will receive it within this month,” he said.
“Once we have the report, we will study its findings before deciding on the next steps.”
Previously, FAM set up the independent committee to investigate the documentation issues involving the seven heritage players in the Harimau Malaya squad, appointing Tun Md Raus as its chairman.
FAM has reiterated that no individuals from within the association were involved in the committee to ensure the investigation is carried out in a fair, transparent and professional manner, with Tun Md Raus given full authority to appoint the committee members. – December 14, 2025