CAS may issue an earlier ruling for the Football Association of Malaysia, with a very high risk of losing to Vietnam.

Malaysian expert Nik Erman Roseli believes CAS could deliver a decision for FAM before February 26th and suggests that FAM might face harsher penalties than initially expected.

In an interview with Berita Harian, sports lawyer Nik Erman Nik Roseli stated that the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) still faces the possibility of stricter sanctions, while the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) might issue a ruling earlier, possibly even before the in-person hearing scheduled for February 26th.

According to this lawyer’s assessment, from FIFA's perspective, the case involving allegations of forged documents by seven former players stems from poor management within FAM.

“From FIFA’s viewpoint, the issue of forged documents results from FAM’s weak management, and if this attitude persists, FIFA may impose even more severe measures,” he stated.

Regarding the trial process, Nik Erman believes CAS does not necessarily have to wait until after February 26th to deliver its decision. “I believe the ruling could be issued on a different date. Typically, decisions are postponed to allow arbitrators time to discuss and prepare the reasoning behind the verdict,” the lawyer explained.

According to sources, CAS’s ruling is likely to be announced before the rematch between Vietnam and Malaysia on March 31st. If CAS rules unfavorably for FAM, the Vietnamese team could be awarded a win for the earlier match, directly impacting the competitive landscape in the regional tournament.

Amid the unresolved situation, on Wednesday, FAM announced that all members of the Executive Committee for the 2025–2029 term have voluntarily resigned immediately.

“The purpose of the resignation is to achieve several goals, including protecting the organization’s reputation and interests, as well as minimizing further deterioration that could affect Malaysian football overall,” FAM’s statement said.

Currently, FAM is temporarily managed by the Secretary General, who has also invited the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) to assist in evaluating the management. AFC Secretary General Datuk Seri Windsor Paul John stated: “The AFC team requires at least three months to conduct a comprehensive assessment of FAM’s management system.”