The Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) has acknowledged the decision delivered by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) concerning appeals submitted by the national football body and seven players linked to an ongoing case.
In a statement today, FAM confirmed that its appeal had been dismissed by CAS, while the appeal lodged by the players was only partially successful.
The ruling resulted in amendments to the sanctions imposed on the players, although they will still be barred from representing any team for the next eight months.
FAM said it had only received the operative part of the award and the full written grounds for the decision have yet to be issued by CAS.
“As such, further comment on the merits of the case will be reserved until the full reasoning of the award is made available,” the association said.
While acknowledging the authority and jurisdiction of CAS as the highest arbitration body for sports disputes, FAM expressed concerns that the sanctions handed down appeared excessive when compared with penalties imposed in similar cases previously heard by the tribunal.
The association said it intends to review the matter in greater detail once the complete award is released.
During the proceedings, FAM also acknowledged shortcomings related to administrative oversight that formed part of the case.
At the same time, investigations involving Malaysian federal authorities as well as the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) are still ongoing.
FAM reiterated that it will continue to extend full cooperation to all relevant agencies involved in the investigation.
Despite the ruling, the association described the outcome as disappointing, particularly for the seven players affected by the decision.
According to FAM, the players were not involved in the administrative procedures that led to the dispute and had no prior knowledge of the issues related to the process.
It also emphasised that the players are Malaysians who had obtained citizenship in accordance with the laws of Malaysia.
FAM expressed appreciation to supporters for their continued backing during what it described as a challenging period for the national football fraternity.
“The national team remains committed to its objectives and will continue striving to strengthen Malaysian football,” the statement added.
-THE MALAYSIA VOICE
