KUALA LUMPUR – Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh has cautioned against setting up a special commission to probe the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) over FIFA’s sanctions, saying such a move would be premature while the appeal is still pending.
“Let FAM complete its appeal first. If the appeal has not been finalised and we start investigating or setting up a commission, that would be like ‘jumping the gun’,” she told reporters today after attending the final camp of the 2025 Sepak Takraw League Clinic.
Hannah said she understood the public pressure for immediate action but stressed the need to follow due process.
“Step by step. Let the appeal be completed first, and only then can we discuss the next course of action, including investigations or improvements,” she said, as reported by Bernama.
Her comments come after FIFA released its full judgement explaining disciplinary measures against FAM and seven players of heritage background, citing falsified and altered documents in their registration process.
According to the Notification of the Grounds of the Decision, FIFA’s Disciplinary Committee found breaches of Article 22 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code, including mismatched details in birth certificates of the players’ grandparents from their countries of origin.
The players – Gabriel Palmero, Facundo Garces, Rodrigo Holgado, Imanol Machuca, Joao Figueiredo, Jon Irazabal and Hector Hevel – were each handed 12-month suspensions.
Asked if the Youth and Sports Ministry would provide assistance to FAM or the players, Hannah said no request had been made.
“So far, no assistance is required from KBS as FAM has its own lawyers and is well-versed with FIFA’s regulations,” she said. — October 8, 2025