Speaking on the ongoing lawsuit between the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) and FIFA, Windsor noted that the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) approval to suspend the execution of the bans is a rare and encouraging sign.
“In all cases involving the AFC at CAS, anyone who requests a stay of execution has been denied,” Windsor told Bharian. “CAS has never approved that.”
Rodrigo Holgado (number 19) during Malaysia’s 4-0 victory over Vietnam in the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers, at Bukit Jalil Stadium, Malaysia, on June 10, 2025. Photo by Malaysia NT |
Since assuming his role in 2015, Windsor observed that this is the first instance where an accused party was granted a stay of execution while evidence was under review.
“Feedback from lawyers working with CAS also considers this a positive sign for the players,” he added.
However, Windsor cautioned that this temporary ban lift does not reflect the final verdict. The stay of execution was granted before FIFA had fully presented its case, meaning the court had primarily heard arguments from the players and FAM thus far.
The case involves seven naturalized players, Joao Figueiredo, Rodrigo Holgado, Imanol Machuca, Facundo Garces, Jon Irazabal, Gabriel Palmero, and Hector Hevel, who were banned for 12 months, effective Sept. 26, 2025. FIFA sanctioned them for allegedly falsifying documents to gain eligibility to represent Malaysia national team.
FAM filed an appeal with CAS on Dec. 8, 2025, and announced on Jan. 26, 2026, that the players were cleared to play pending the final ruling. A formal hearing is scheduled for Feb. 26, where FIFA, FAM, and the players will present their full arguments.
Besides the legal battle, FAM is undergoing a major structural overhaul following the mass resignation of its executive board on Jan. 28. The move was made to mitigate the risk of a total FIFA suspension.
The AFC, FIFA and FAM met last week to agree on a roadmap and clearly define the roles in the restoration process, according to Windsor.
The AFC is leading this recovery phase, which involves a comprehensive review of FAM’s records, personnel policies, and internal regulations to ensure compliance with international standards. The entire administrative recovery process is expected to last at least three months.
During this time, the AFC will continue to work closely with FIFA and FAM, both overseeing internal reforms and closely monitoring developments in the CAS, a key factor affecting the future of Malaysian football.
Comments are closed.