AFC issues 'ultimatum', Malaysia faces severe penalty threat

The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has demanded the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) to quickly reply to an explanatory letter prior to any disciplinary decision, amidst the Malaysian squad facing the possibility of losing points in the 2027 Asian Cup qualification stage.

According to Harian Metro, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has formally requested the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) to respond to an explanatory letter concerning a controversial incident before undertaking any legal measures. This move indicates the continental football governing body is strictly adhering to disciplinary procedures, while also providing Malaysia an opportunity to present its defense arguments.

As confirmed by AFC, a letter requesting explanation has been sent to FAM, and the response from this federation will serve as a crucial basis for the Disciplinary Committee to make a ruling regarding the Malayan national team in the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers. The case is currently under investigation, with no final conclusion yet.

AFC General Secretary, Datuk Seri Windsor Paul John, emphasized that all disciplinary actions must follow proper procedures. He stated: "The Disciplinary Committee commenced their process last week. Typically, they start with a 'charge', meaning clearly stating that a violation may have occurred and requesting involved parties to provide an explanation."

Elaborating further on this process, he said: "Then, they will allow a specific period, perhaps a week or ten days, for the relevant parties to submit their response," while revealing the official investigation was initiated last week and is being conducted according to standard international practice.

Previously, AFC launched an investigation following allegations related to forged documents of seven players who were suspended by FIFA for 12 months. Although the case was brought to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), the penalty remained upheld, and now forms a key part of the dossier under AFC review.

Windsor added: "The case file has actually been with the disciplinary secretariat for a long time. Therefore, they will assess all this information before meeting and making a decision." He also stressed: "We hope it won't take much time because this case is not new. It has existed for a long time and everyone already knows about it." If found guilty, Malaysia risks point deduction in the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers, thereby directly affecting its chance to secure a ticket to the Finals in Saudi Arabia.