FIFA and AFC take decisive action against the Football Association of Malaysia

The Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) are said to have met with the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) in the past week.

Details about the meeting were confirmed by AFC Secretary General, Datuk Seri Windsor John Paul, during the program Sebelas Utama on Astro Arena. According to Mr. Windsor, this was not a mere formal exchange but an in-depth session to thoroughly review the entire situation concerning 7 players of Malaysian descent, who are currently allowed a temporary suspension of sanctions by CAS.

Mr. Windsor emphasized: “FIFA, AFC, and FAM convened last week. We discussed what actions FAM and AFC will undertake, as well as what FAM needs to implement.” This marks the first time the three major football organizations worldwide and continentally have met directly with FAM amid the ongoing controversy.

According to the AFC Secretary General, the initial phase of the current process is document collection. FAM has been requested to provide all records, evidence, and related documents to FIFA and AFC for evaluation purposes.

“The first stage now is to gather the documents that FAM must submit to FIFA and AFC,” he clarified, indicating this is only the beginning of a complex and lengthy review process.

A notable point is that AFC will play a larger role in this process, especially since the Asian football governing body’s headquarters is located in Malaysia. This allows AFC to closely monitor developments and coordinate more effectively with FAM.

He stated to Astro Arena: “We will collect all current policies of FAM, including the latest statutes of FAM as well as HR department policies.”

He also disclosed that a comprehensive list of documents will be forwarded by FAM to AFC soon, implying the workload and complexity of the files Malaysia needs to complete.

While FIFA and AFC continue their review, all attention is now on February 26, 2026, when CAS is expected to issue its final ruling. This decision will have a significant impact not only on the 7 players involved but also directly affect HR policies, recruitment strategies, and the future of Malaysian football.