DONE! Malaysia finalizes its decision regarding the lawsuit with FIFA

The Malaysian Football Association's internal team has agreed on a strategy ahead of the lawsuit concerning naturalized players with FIFA and is now awaiting the official proceedings at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

The Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) confirms it has entrusted 100% of the legal responsibility to the appointed lawyers handling the appeal of FIFA's decision at the CAS. The hearing in Switzerland is considered a decisive step, directly impacting FAM’s reputation and the future careers of the players involved.

Acting FAM President, Datuk Mohd Yusoff Mahadi, stated the association has chosen a cautious approach, showing full respect for legal expertise. “I believe we should leave this matter to our legal team; the process has been handed over to them, so we let them proceed,” he emphasized FAM’s stance of non-interference.

According to Mahadi, at present, the legal team is prepared to enter the hearing to defend the rights and justice for FAM as well as the seven national team players. However, he confirmed that all details related to the case process remain confidential to avoid affecting the overall strategy.

“I cannot disclose exact details about the CAS procedure, as it has been handed over to our legal team,” Mahadi added. According to the FAM leader, keeping information confidential is essential given the case’s significant international attention and its broad impact on the image of Malaysian football.

Previously, FAM came under heavy criticism when FIFA imposed sanctions on seven Harimau Malaya players, accusing them of falsifying birth certificates and personal records to qualify to represent Malaysia. This not only weakened the national team but also severely damaged FAM’s reputation internationally.

The seven players—Gabriel Palmero, Facundo Garces, Rodrigo Holgado, Imanol Machuca, Joao Figueiredo, Jon Irazabal, and Hector Hevel—were suspended for 12 months starting from last September. Additionally, FAM was fined 350,000 CHF, and each player received a 2,000 CHF penalty. In this context, Mahadi affirmed his full confidence in the legal team for this critical case: “I believe they will do what’s best for FAM.”