The FIFA Complaints Committee has upheld the previous disciplinary award given by the FIFA to FAM and the group of 7 naturalized players. However, FAM has affirmed that it will continue to pursue the lawsuit against Cas. The CAS is the highest level in the sports refereeing system.
According to expert Datuk Pekan Ramli, prolonging the case does not benefit FAM. He compared Malaysia to having losed 0-2 to FIFA after two hearings and said that the evidence provided by FIFA was too obvious. "There is no need to blame or prolong the incident. Appealing to CAS is only expensive and unlikely to have a different result, he said, suggesting that FAM should frankly acknowledge the errors and handle the responsibility internally.
This view has also received the agreement of many former players. Striker Safee Sali believes FAM should accept mistakes to learn from experience and rebuild the foundation of national football, while veteran goalkeeper James Wong emphasized reporting only makes the organization more costly and unpopular.
Malaysian public opinion also expressed fatigue with the prolonged litigation. On football forums, many fans called on FAM to stop complaining to focus on reforming the system, considering this an expensive lesson for managing naturalized players.
However, the sources said FAM is still completing legal procedures to submit an appeal to CAS within the allowed time limit.
