HANNAH URGES ALL QUARTERS TO LET FAM COMPLETE FIFA APPEAL PROCESS

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 8 (Bernama) -- Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh has urged all parties to give the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) space to complete the appeal process regarding the sanction imposed by FIFA, before taking steps to form any commission of inquiry.  

She said forming a special commission at this stage would be premature, as the case is still under appeal at the world football governing body.  

“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’.  

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“I understand many are calling for immediate action, but we have to follow the 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 after visiting the final camp of the 2025 Sepak Takraw League (STL) Clinic at Akademi Sepak Takraw Malaysia here today.  

Earlier, FIFA issued the full judgement and the reasons behind the disciplinary action taken against FAM and seven heritage players after confirming inconsistencies in the original documents submitted during the players’ registration process.  

According to the official report titled *Notification of the Grounds of the Decision*, FIFA’s Disciplinary Committee stated that the action was taken following a breach of Article 22 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code involving the falsification and alteration of official documents.  

The investigation found that several supporting documents submitted by FAM, including the birth certificates of the players’ grandparents, contained details that did not match the original records from the players’ actual countries of birth.  

The seven players suspended for 12 months are Gabriel Palmero, Facundo Garces, Rodrigo Holgado, Imanol Machuca, Joao Figueiredo, Jon Irazabal and Hector Hevel.  

Commenting on the possibility of any assistance or support from the Youth and Sports Ministry (KBS) to FAM or the players involved, Hannah said no request had been received so far from the national football governing body.

“So far, no assistance is required from KBS as FAM has its own lawyers and is well-versed with FIFA’s regulations,” she said. 

-- BERNAMA