AFC Secretary General Windsor Paul John: 'AFC will resolve the issue as quickly as possible'

The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has taken note of the CAS verdict regarding the 7 naturalized players and the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM), adding that it will forward the matter to its Disciplinary Committee for consideration and subsequent steps.

AFC Secretary General, Datuk Seri Windsor Paul, stated that the body accepts the conclusions from the independent sports arbitration authority and will soon decide on the status of the Malaysian team for the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers.

He emphasized that a decision must be made before the tournament draw ceremony later this month.

"Now that the decision has been formally issued, we accept the conclusions of CAS. We will immediately submit this ruling to the Disciplinary Committee," he told reporters from The Star when contacted this evening (March 5).

"Our priority is to resolve this matter as swiftly and effectively as possible. However, we must ensure all established timelines are strictly adhered to.

There is a clear process that must be followed. After our Committee makes a decision, FAM still retains the right to appeal.

We do not assume they will accept the initial outcome; they have the right to take the case to a higher level, including returning to CAS if deemed necessary."

Earlier today, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) partially accepted the appeal of seven players sanctioned for document forgery in a case involving FAM, ruling that their suspension applies only to official matches.

In the decision issued in Lausanne today, CAS confirmed the players must still serve a 12-month suspension but modified the previous FIFA penalty, allowing them to continue training and participate in other football activities with their clubs.

The seven players are: Facundo Garces, Rodrigo Holgado, Imanol Machuca, Joao Figueiredo, Gabriel Palmero, Jon Irazabal, and Hector Hevel.

However, FAM's separate appeal was dismissed, meaning the Malaysian football governing body must still pay a fine of 350,000 Swiss francs (approximately RM 1.8 million).

When asked about the CAS ruling, Windsor stated:

"The ruling is two-sided. While the 12-month suspension remains in place, which is the minimum under FIFA regulations for such an offense, the players have secured some leniency.

They are permitted to continue training, though they cannot yet play in official matches."

Currently, the next decision lies with the AFC and its Disciplinary Committee, a factor that could directly impact the standing of the Malaysian team in the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers.