The case involving 7 naturalized Malaysian players continues to be the focus, as sports lawyer Nik Erman Nik Roseli believes that the Football Association of Malaysia has a legal basis to sue this group of players.
According to him, the people involved have declared that they are of Malaysian origin to be eligible for naturalization, but the actual information does not meet the standards according to FIFA regulations.
In the documents sent to FIFA, the players admitted that the paperwork was done by the representative and some FAM staff. This raises doubts about the role of intermediaries in the entire process.
However, Mr. Nik Erman said that incorrect records do not mean that the player is irresponsible.
According to this lawyer, although FAM may face risks when taking the case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), this organization still has a basis to counter-sue the players for providing inaccurate information about the origin.
He also said that the person who should bear the biggest responsibility could be the representative or the individual who acts as an intermediary - the person FIFA mentioned but did not name, because this could be the factor that promotes the process of forging documents.
Malaysian media previously reported that a group of 7 naturalized players are considering suing FAM to claim compensation for damages, especially after some were terminated by their clubs due to a 1-year suspension.
In that context, FAM is completing procedures to submit the case to CAS in an attempt to mitigate or reject the allegations, but has not yet announced the official filing date.
