AFC has set a deadline for Malaysia before making a decision

AFC confirmed that March 31, 2026, is the final deadline for the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) to complete all legal procedures with FIFA.

The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) officially spoke out regarding the case involving seven naturalized Malaysian players, affirming that March 31, 2026, is the absolute deadline for the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) to finalize all legal processes with FIFA before any disciplinary or regulatory decisions related to regional competitions are made.

According to AFC’s announcement, Malaysia is prohibited from fielding the seven suspended players in any matches of the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers until the matter is fully resolved.

The federation emphasized that any form of sanction will only be applied after FAM’s appeals at various levels are concluded, but the deadline will not extend beyond March 31, 2026, coinciding with the final matchday of the Asian Cup qualifiers.

AFC Secretary General, Datuk Seri Windsor Paul John, stated that the organization is closely monitoring the progress of the case and will strictly adhere to international regulations set by FIFA. “AFC must wait until FAM completes all legal steps. Their next move is to appeal to the FIFA Appeals Committee, and if necessary, escalate the case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). Everything depends on FAM,” Mr. Windsor emphasized.

He also revealed that FIFA’s Football Tribunal is still reviewing the eligibility of the seven naturalized players registered by FAM, meaning the case has not yet reached a final verdict. This puts Malaysia in a difficult position as the national team is likely unable to use these players in official tournaments for nearly two years.

AFC’s action is seen as a cautious step to ensure fairness and transparency throughout the continent’s competition system. Meanwhile, FAM is under increasing pressure from both domestic and international public opinion, especially after FIFA announced sanctions related to forged naturalization documents for seven foreign-born players.

Experts believe that with the deadline extended to March 2026, FAM will have additional time to prepare appeal documents and clarify details in the case.

Currently, AFC maintains a neutral stance and asserts that a final decision will only be made after all legal procedures are completed. This means the future of the Malaysian team and the fate of the seven suspended players will be determined in the near future.