PETALING JAYA: The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) have acknowledged the verdict from the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) on the seven-mixed heritage players and the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM), and will present it to their disciplinary committee for further action.
AFC secretary-general Datuk Seri Windsor Paul said the body accept the findings from the independent sports arbitration body and would look to come up with a verdict quickly in regards to Harimau Malaya's status in the Asian Cup 2027 qualifiers.
Plus a verdict needs to be made before the tournament draw this month.
"Now that the decision is official, we accept the findings of the CAS. We will present this decision to the disciplinary committee immediately," he said when contacted on Thursday (March 5).
"It is our priority to get this resolved as quickly and efficiently as possible. However, we must ensure that all established timelines are strictly respected.
"There is a clear due process to follow. Once our committee reach a decision, the FAM maintain the right to appeal.
"We do not operate under the assumption that they will simply accept the initial outcome; they have the option to escalate the matter, including the right to go straight back to CAS if they deem it necessary."
CAS have 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, 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).
When asked about the verdict, Windsor gave his thoughts on it.
"The verdict is mixed. While the 12-month ban remains in place - which is the minimum sanction under FIFA regulations for such an infraction - the players have managed to secure a degree of reprieve.
"They are permitted to continue training, even if they cannot yet take the pitch for official matches."
