KUALA LUMPUR — The fate of Malaysia’s seven naturalised footballers hangs in the balance as the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Lausanne, Switzerland, prepares to deliver its verdict this Friday.
According to a source close to the matter, only the legal team appointed by the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) will be present to represent the players.
Senior officials from the national body, including FAM secretary-general Datuk Noor Azman Rahman, will not be attending the proceedings.
“The decision is expected to be announced immediately after the hearing, as early as 5am Malaysian time on Friday,” the source told Scoop.
The appeal at CAS centres solely on the sanctions imposed on the seven players, rather than challenging FIFA’s broader ruling.
Malaysia is seeking a reduction in the punishments, potentially allowing the players to return and bolster the national squad.
The seven heritage players — Gabriel Palmero, Facundo Garces, Rodrigo Holgado, Imanol Machuca, Joao Figueiredo, Jon Irazabal and Hector Hevel — were handed 12-month suspensions by FIFA in September following the discovery of document falsification related to national team eligibility.
Earlier this year, CAS granted a stay of execution in January, permitting the players to continue competing while awaiting the final decision, which is expected on or after February 26.
The uncertainty surrounding their status has disrupted the national team’s preparations, particularly with a packed schedule that includes qualification campaigns and major tournaments in 2026. – February 24, 2026