Kuala lumpur: The Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) has been advised to pay close attention to technical requirements, including time zones, when filing its appeal against FIFA’s decision to sanction the national body and seven heritage players over falsified eligibility documents.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, former FAM secretary-general Mohd Saifuddin Abu Bakar emphasized the importance of adhering to FIFA’s technical guidelines to ensure the appeal is not rejected due to delays or non-compliance. He highlighted the necessity of understanding the correct timing for the appeal submission, whether it follows Swiss time or local time, as even a minor delay could result in rejection by FIFA.
Mohd Saifuddin explained that FIFA would initially assess the admissibility of the appeal before proceeding with a final ruling. He also mentioned that if FAM remains unsatisfied with the verdict, the case could be escalated to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) as a last resort. The former secretary-general stressed the importance of comparing documents from both FIFA and FAM to determine the outcome.
Meanwhile, Asian Football Confederation (AFC) secretary-general Datuk Seri Windsor Paul John stated that the confederation would adopt a cautious approach regarding the Harimau Malaya squad’s participation in the 2027 Asian Cup Qualifiers, pending the outcome of FAM’s appeal.
Last month, FIFA’s Disciplinary Committee sanctioned FAM and seven heritage players for breaching Article 22 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code related to document falsification. According to FIFA, FAM had submitted falsified documents to confirm player eligibility for the Asian Cup 2027 qualifier against Vietnam.
The seven players involved include Gabriel Felipe Arrocha, Facundo Garces, Rodrigo Holgado, Imanol Machuca, Joao Figueiredo, Jon Irazabal, and Hector Hevel. FAM was fined CHF350,000 (approximately RM1.8 million), while each player received a fine of CHF2,000 (around RM10,560) and a 12-month suspension from all football-related activities.
In its latest report, FIFA’s Disciplinary Committee Secretariat concluded that several players under FAM had used falsified documents to bypass eligibility rules. FAM confirmed receipt of FIFA’s full written judgment and stated its intention to submit a formal appeal, with all supporting documents and evidence ready for immediate submission.