PETALING JAYA: The Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) have expressed disappointment following the decision by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) regarding the appeals filed by the association and seven players.
In a statement issued on Friday (March 6), the national football body acknowledged receipt of the operative part of the award issued by CAS.
While FAM respects the authority of CAS, it believes the sanctions imposed appear disproportionate, particularly when compared with sanctions handed down in similar cases previously heard by CAS.
FAM said it will assess the matter further once the full written award becomes available.
"Throughout the proceedings, FAM accepted responsibility for oversight failures. Investigations by federal agencies in Malaysia and FIFA remain ongoing, and FAM will continue to cooperate fully with all relevant authorities.
"The outcome is particularly disappointing for the players. The players were not involved in the administrative process and did not know matters related to the administration," said FAM.
The association added that the players are Malaysians who obtained citizenship in accordance with the laws of Malaysia.
CAS partially upheld an appeal by seven footballers sanctioned for falsifying documents in an eligibility case involving the FAM, ruling that their suspension will apply only to official matches.
In a decision issued in Lausanne on Thursday (March 5), CAS confirmed that the players will still serve a 12-month ban but amended the sanction imposed earlier by FIFA, allowing them to continue training and participating in other football-related activities with their clubs.
The seven players involved are Facundo Garces, Rodrigo Holgado, Imanol Machuca, Joao Figueiredo, Gabriel Palmero, Jon Irazabal and Hector Hevel.
However, a separate appeal by FAM was dismissed, meaning the governing body must still pay a fine of 350,000 swiss francs (RM1.8mil).
The full reasoning behind the award has yet to be issued, and FAM said further comment on the merits of the decision will be reserved until the written grounds are reviewed.
FAM also thanked fans for their unwavering support during what it described as a difficult period.
The national team, it added, remains focused on its objectives and will continue working hard for Malaysian football.
