Fam Stunned By Fifa Ruling Turns To Cas For Last Hope

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FAM acting president Datuk Yusoff Mahadi. - FILEPICKUALA LUMPUR: The Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) said it was shocked by FIFA's decision to uphold sanctions against the national body and seven foreign players over a document-falsification scandal and vowed to take the case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
In a statement issued late on Monday, FAM confirmed it had received the FIFA appeal committee's ruling dismissing its appeal but said it would request a full written explanation before deciding on its next move.
"FAM has received the decision from FIFA in which our appeal has been dismissed," said acting president Datuk Yusoff Mahadi.
"FAM will write to FIFA to obtain the full details and written reasoning behind the decision before taking the next step to submit an appeal to the CAS."
Yusoff admitted the outcome had caught the national body by surprise.
"This is the first time FAM is facing a situation like this, and our lawyers and management are very surprised by the decision," he said.
"Nevertheless, FAM will continue to stand firm in defending the rights of the players and the interests of Malaysian football at the international level."
FIFA had earlier announced that its appeal committee had confirmed FAM's violation of Article 22 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code concerning forgery and falsification.
The world body ordered FAM to pay a CHF 350,000 (about RM 1.9 million) fine, while seven players - Gabriel Palmero, Facundo Garces, Rodrigo Holgado, Imanol Machuca, Joao Figueiredo, Jon Irazabal and Hector Hevel - were each fined CHF 2,000 (RM 10,600) and banned from all football-related activities for 12 months.
FAM now has 10 days to request FIFA's detailed written judgment and a further 21 days to file its appeal to CAS, where the final outcome of the case will be decided. - NST

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