Kuala lumpur: Government funds allocated to the national football team cannot be utilized by the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) for the appeal process regarding the eligibility of its seven heritage players to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh stated that the government had earmarked RM15 million to support the preparations of the main squad and Under-23 team for the Asian Cup Finals, covering expenses such as allowances, coaches’ salaries, and training. “This allocation cannot be used by FAM for its appeal process. If FAM wants to take the case to the CAS, it must be prepared to bear the costs,” she said during the winding-up debate on the Supply (Budget) Bill 2026 in the Dewan Rakyat.

Yeoh emphasized that the government would not provide additional funding to the national team until the completion of investigations and improvements to FAM’s administration. She also mentioned that the ministry would evaluate improvement proposals, including ensuring each application for the naturalization of players is referred to the National Sports Council (NSC) to prioritize the development program of local athletes.

Previously, FAM acting president Datuk Mohd Yusoff Mahadi announced that it would begin the process of taking the case regarding the eligibility of their seven heritage players to CAS to uphold justice and defend the integrity of the players’ eligibility process as stipulated by the government and relevant authorities.

In a related development, Yeoh praised the achievements of athletes in other sports, such as badminton, wushu, tenpin bowling, and lawn bowls this year. “For 2025, we have produced world champions, among them the mixed doubles pair of Chen Tang Jie and Toh Ee Wei (badminton). We will continue to support the athletes and ensure they get sufficient training and exposure. I am confident their performance levels will continue to rise,” she said.

The Dewan Rakyat subsequently approved the estimated operating and development expenditure of RM1,182,924,500 for the ministry under Budget 2026 by a majority voice vote.