According to Malaysian press, AFC Secretary General Datuk Seri Windsor Paul John (Malaysian) said he had received an official complaint from Vietnam after the match between the two teams in the Asian Cup 2027 qualifiers. Because this is a tournament belonging to the AFC system, the information was then transferred to FIFA to carry out review steps according to regulations.
According to Mr. Windsor, FIFA reviewed the dossiers of 7 players before making announcements related to the initial disciplinary decision against FAM. However, Malaysia quickly exercised its right to appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
In the latest developments, CAS has accepted the application to temporarily suspend the execution of the penalty for 7 players until a final verdict is issued. This is considered an important step forward to help Malaysia continue to defend its views in the case.
Datuk Seri Windsor said that CAS's approval of the suspension order is unprecedented in previous precedents, and assessed that the success of the parties at the present time may be at a balanced level.
The direct hearing is scheduled to take place on February 26. While waiting for the final verdict, FAM affirmed that it will fully cooperate with relevant agencies and believe in the transparent legal process of international football management organizations.
