Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has announced that the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) has until March 31, 2026 to complete all legal proceedings related to the ongoing disciplinary case with FIFA concerning the eligibility documentation of seven Malaysian national team players.
In a statement, AFC confirmed that Malaysia will not be allowed to field any of the seven suspended players in the AFC Asian Cup 2027 Qualifiers until the case reaches a final resolution.
AFC General Secretary Datuk Seri Windsor Paul John clarified that the confederation will only act once the full legal process between FAM and FIFA has concluded — but no later than the March 31, 2026 deadline, which coincides with the final matchday of the qualifiers.
“AFC has to wait for all legal avenues to be completed by FAM,” Windsor explained. “The next steps are for FAM to appeal to the FIFA Appeals Committee and, if necessary, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). It’s all up to FAM.”
He further added that FIFA’s Football Tribunal is still reviewing the eligibility matter, meaning the case has not yet reached a conclusive decision.
The timeline effectively gives FAM nearly six months to finalize its appeals through FIFA’s legal system — and, if required, elevate the matter to CAS in Switzerland.
The AFC’s stance aims to ensure procedural fairness while maintaining the integrity of the Asian Cup qualification process. The confederation will only enforce any sanctions or adjustments after a legally binding verdict is reached.
The Football Association of Malaysia had earlier confirmed that it is preparing a comprehensive appeal supported by official government-certified documents, reaffirming that the issue stemmed from an administrative submission error and not from any player misconduct.
With Malaysia currently leading Group F in the qualifiers, the decision places significant focus on how FAM navigates the coming months — balancing on-field performance with off-field legal efforts to clear the names of the affected players before the AFC’s final deadline.
Credit Photo : Sorawit/SNE Sports
