FAM submits appeal to CAS

The FA of Malaysia (FAM) has submitted a statement of appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) to address the sanctions by Fifa against the Malaysian football governing body and seven ‘heritage’ footballers.

In a statement this morning, FAM acting president Datuk Wira Mohd Yusoff Mahadi said the national body’s legal counsel has been granted a 10-day period to prepare and submit the complete written arguments. The deadline for this submission is set for Dec 18.

“FAM asserts its full commitment to going through this process in a professional, transparent manner, and with full respect for all established legal procedures,” Mahadi said in the brief statement.

“All further developments will be announced from time to time.”

Fifa, on Sept 25, slapped FAM with a CHF 350,000 fine while the seven players – Gabriel Felipe Arrocha, Facundo Tomás Garcés, Rodrigo Julián Holgado, Imanol Javier Machuca, João Vitor Brandão Figueiredo, Jon Irazábal Iraurgui, and Hector Alejandro Hevel Serrano – were fined CHF 2,000 and suspended for 12 months from all football-related activities following claims of “doctored documentation” to allow the footballers to don the national colours.

Fifa’s Appeal Committee, had on Nov 18, instructed the world body’s secretariat to take immediate steps to launch a formal investigation into the internal operations of FAM.

The committee said that the probe aimed to identify the individuals responsible for the falsification of documents; assess the adequacy and effectiveness of FAM’s internal compliance and governance mechanisms; and determine whether additional disciplinary measures are warranted against FAM officials.

The incident has since grabbed headlines worldwide. Lawmakers in Malaysia have also expressed their concerns over the episode.