KUALA LUMPUR: The FA of Malaysia (FAM) is expecting to receive the full investigation report this month from the independent committee it established to look into the documentation of seven Harimau Malaya players suspended by FIFA.
FAM acting president Datuk Seri Yusoff Mahadi said the national body is still waiting for the report from the committee, chaired by former Chief Justice Tun Md Raus Sharif, before making any further decision.
“We are still waiting for the report from Tun Raus and I expect the report to be received this month. From the report, we will see the findings presented before determining the next step,” Yusoff said.
He spoke to reporters after the MoU signing event with Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) Specialist Centre (UKMSC) on Sunday (Dec 15).
FAM set up the independent committee in October, appointing Tun Md Raus to investigate the issue involving the seven heritage players, who were suspended for 12 months by FIFA.
Yusoff said FAM has fully submitted its appeal on the documentation issue to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) after completing all processes at the FIFA level.
“In the current situation, our legal team is preparing to submit all the necessary documents. I believe we can meet the CAS procedure deadline of Dec 18,” he said.
Yusoff said CAS is the final platform for the governing body to complete the available legal processes.
He also stressed that the decision to bring the case to CAS was not driven by risk considerations but to ensure all legal processes were fully completed.
“We have completed the FIFA level and there is no more matter involving the world body.
“At CAS, this is our last process and it is an independent body that is not bound by FIFA. Whatever the decision is, it is final and must be complied with by all parties,” he added.
FAM previously confirmed it had submitted an appeal to CAS regarding the punishment imposed by FIFA on the documentation issue involving Gabriel Palmero, Facundo Garces, Rodrigo Holgado, Imanol Machuca, Joao Figueiredo, Jon Irazabal, and Hector Hevel.
The decision to appeal to CAS was made after FIFA revealed the reasons for the appeals committee’s decision on Nov 3, which upheld the its disciplinary committee’s initial ruling.
The decision saw FAM fined 350,000 Swiss francs (about RM1.8 million), while the seven players were suspended for 12 months and fined 2,000 Swiss francs (about RM10,000) each. – BERNAMA
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