THE Court of Arbitration for Sport has approved a Stay of Execution application filed by seven Malaysian national team players, temporarily halting their 12-month suspension from football imposed by FIFA, the Football Association of Malaysia said.
The players involved are Facundo Garces, Rodrigo Holgado, Imanol Machuca, Joao Figueiredo, Gabriel Palmero, Jon Irazabal and Hector Hevel.
The ruling suspends, for now, the one-year ban from all football-related activities handed down by FIFA’s disciplinary committee, enabling the players to continue their professional careers and take part in matches and other football activities until a final decision is reached by CAS on their appeal.
The case has drawn international attention after FIFA last year sanctioned the players over allegations that false birth and lineage documents were used to enable them to represent Malaysia.
The suspensions, which took effect from September, dealt a significant blow to the national team and damaged FAM’s standing within the global football community.
In addition to imposing 12-month bans on the players, FIFA fined FAM CHF350,000, equivalent to about RM1.8 million. Each of the players was also fined CHF2,000, or roughly RM10,000.
The CAS decision does not overturn the FIFA ruling but places it on hold pending the outcome of the appeal, which will determine whether the suspensions and fines are upheld, reduced or annulled. Until that decision is delivered, the seven players remain eligible to play. - January 27, 2026
