Kuala lumpur: The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has clarified that the suspension imposed on Timor-Leste is different from the situation currently faced by the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM). AFC Secretary-General Datuk Seri Windsor Paul John explained that the offence committed by Timor-Leste was discovered after the tournament concluded, leading to sanctions for a future competition.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Datuk Seri Windsor Paul John stated that the situation involving the Malaysian national squad occurred during a different phase of the competition. He emphasized that the cases involving Malaysia and Timor-Leste cannot be compared due to the distinct contexts in which they occurred. The Timor-Leste case was identified post-competition, resulting in their suspension from the next edition, while the Malaysian situation happened while the competition was still ongoing.

He further noted that Article 25 of the AFC Disciplinary Code and Article 56 do not permit the AFC Disciplinary Committee to impose sanctions beyond set limits. The AFC previously suspended Timor-Leste from the 2023 AFC Asian Cup following the discovery that the Football Federation of Timor-Leste (FFTL) secretary-general, Amandio de Araujo, had falsified player nationality documents.

Windsor highlighted that the Disciplinary Committee is responsible for deciding on sanctions based on existing regulations, with the provision for appeals. He stressed that decisions must adhere to the powers granted under the disciplinary code, emphasizing the importance of not exceeding these powers.

In other developments, Windsor mentioned that FAM is expected to undergo a leadership transition following the resignation of the Executive Committee members for the 2025-2029 term. An extraordinary FAM congress may be held before the 2026 FIFA World Cup or around June, with the elective congress anticipated after the tournament, either in August or by September at the latest.