The Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) has confirmed that it will escalate its battle over the eligibility status of seven Malaysian heritage players to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), after receiving FIFA’s full written decision rejecting the association’s appeal.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, FAM said it had received the detailed reasoning behind FIFA’s decision to dismiss the appeal involving the players who were earlier suspended for the use of falsified documents in their nationality verification process.
Acting President Datuk Wira Mohd Yusoff Mahadi said the decision to bring the case before CAS was necessary to ensure fairness and to defend the legitimacy of the player eligibility procedures established by the Malaysian government and relevant authorities.
“FAM will initiate the process of bringing this case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport,” the statement read.
“This step is taken to ensure that justice is upheld and to protect the integrity of the eligibility process endorsed by the Malaysian Government and the relevant agencies.”
Yusoff stressed that FAM remains committed to safeguarding the rights of all players who are legitimately eligible to represent Malaysia.
In its statement, FAM assured the public that all actions taken moving forward will adhere strictly to professional standards, transparency and the proper legal channels.
“FAM is committed to fighting for the rights of every player eligible to represent the country, and will ensure all actions are executed professionally, transparently and in accordance with proper legal procedures,” the association said.
The decision to take the matter to CAS escalates an already high-profile dispute that has drawn international attention after FIFA ruled that seven players had used falsified documents to obtain eligibility for the Malaysian national team.
The move comes just hours after the FIFA Appeal Committee upheld all disciplinary sanctions against FAM and the players, and ordered further investigations into internal operations, governance oversight and the roles of individuals involved.
The CAS process is expected to be lengthy and complex, potentially shaping the future of the naturalisation and heritage-player pathway in Malaysian football for years to come.
Credit Photo : FAM
