CAS remains 'silent', Malaysia faces high risk of losing 0-3 to Vietnam

Malaysian media voice worries over FAM’s prospects while CAS has not delivered a conclusive decision.

"The future of Malaysian football remains uncertain, amid the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) not having made any rulings regarding the case of the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM)," NST expresses apprehension about Malaysian football’s outlook following FIFA sanctions.

Previously, FAM officially filed an appeal to CAS to challenge the penalties imposed by FIFA on the federation and seven players classified as “heritage” players. However, when reviewing CAS’s hearing schedule released for January 2026, no cases related to Malaysia are listed.

"In fact, CAS’s January calendar is quite packed with numerous disputes from various sports worldwide. The first hearing is scheduled for January 12, involving Marc Biolley & Matchworld Football SA against the Belgian Football Association. Following that are two cases: ASD Ostuni Calcio vs FIFA on January 15, and AS Saint-Étienne vs FIFA on January 16.

Mid-month, CAS will review disputes involving the World Athletics Federation and the Ethiopian Anti-Doping Agency, as well as the case between World Rugby and the Football Federation of Kosovo. On January 21, several lawsuits related to Espérance Sportive de Tunis will be heard...", NST reports.

Notably, the above list — which CAS emphasized is for informational purposes only — does not mention any cases involving Malaysia. No representatives from FAM, Malaysian clubs, or domestic disputes are scheduled for hearings, nor is there any indication that Malaysian football’s case will be reviewed soon.

Experts in the country also assess the likelihood of FAM overturning the situation as very low. The absence of the case from the hearing schedule suggests CAS’s review process could be prolonged, meaning FIFA’s sanctions will likely remain in effect. Furthermore, previous precedents show CAS tends to uphold FIFA’s positions in matters concerning player eligibility and international legal issues, limiting FAM’s chances of success.