The Court of Arbitration for Sport has partially upheld an appeal by seven heritage players, reducing their FIFA ban to official matches only while upholding a RM1.8 million fine against the Football Association of Malaysia.

THE Court of Arbitration for Sport has partially upheld an appeal by seven heritage players against sanctions imposed by the International Federation of Association Football for falsifying naturalisation and eligibility documents.

In an operative decision released today, the CAS Panel ruled that the players shall receive a 12-month ban from official matches only, rather than from all football-related activities as originally ordered by FIFA.

The panel found that the infraction of falsifying eligibility documents was established and that a 12-month match ban was a reasonable and proportionate sanction given the players’ complicit responsibility in the fraud.

It decided, in accordance with Article 22 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code, that the ban should apply solely to matches, meaning the players can resume training with their respective clubs during the suspension period.

This match ban commenced today, with credit given for the period from Sept 25, 2025 until Jan 26, 2026, during which the ban was already being served.

Meanwhile, the CAS Panel considered that the CHF 350,000 fine, approximately RM1.8 million, imposed on the Football Association of Malaysia was justified and proportionate to its role in the case.

The FAM and the seven players had filed consolidated appeals with CAS on December 5, 2025, challenging the original FIFA Disciplinary Committee ruling from November last year.

 The Sun Malaysia