FAM must scrutinise FIFA’s written grounds before appealing to CAS over heritage player sanctions, with potential costs reaching millions of ringgit.
THE Football Association of Malaysia must first examine FIFA’s written grounds before considering an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport over heritage player sanctions.
Commercial and sports lawyer Nik Erman Nik Roseli said the motivated decision is necessary to identify potential factual or legal errors that could form a strong appeal basis.
“It is difficult to assess FAM’s chances at CAS, given the limited transparency and information shared with the public by the national football body,” he told Bernama.
Nik Erman did not rule out the possibility that bringing the case to CAS may cost millions of ringgit.
Meanwhile, former FAM general secretary Datuk Seri Azzuddin Ahmad said FAM should learn from the issue which has tarnished Malaysian football’s reputation.
Azzuddin believes FAM will face significant challenges if proceeding with a CAS appeal, including the risk of harsher FIFA penalties and substantial legal costs.
“The implication worries me. Our organisation could face suspension because it would appear that we are going against the tide, considering that FIFA’s findings are already laid out before us,” he said.
“We must remember that further actions can be taken by FIFA,” he told reporters at the Walk With Al-Sultan Abdullah event at Stadium Merdeka.
On Monday, FIFA rejected the appeal filed by FAM and seven heritage players involved in document falsification allegations.
The FIFA Appeal Committee upheld sanctions previously imposed by its Disciplinary Committee for offences under Article 22 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code.
FAM was fined CHF350,000 (approximately RM1.8 million), while the seven players were each fined CHF2,000 (approximately RM11,000) with 12-month suspensions from all football activities.
FAM and the players have 10 days to request the full written judgment and 21 days to file an appeal to CAS. – Bernama
