FAM and seven national players were sanctioned by Fifa last month after the global football body said FAM had submitted doctored documentation to field the players in an Asian Cup qualifier.
Yeoh said FAM’s ongoing appeal must first be concluded to ensure that the ministry’s subsequent actions are based on proper procedures and complete information, Buletin TV3 reported.
“I can see there are many suggestions right now. If we read the social media, there are all sorts of views and ideas because football is the people’s sport.
“But I think we have to go stage by stage. Let’s complete the appeal process first. Once that is done, then we can discuss whether to conduct an investigation or make improvements.
“If the appeal is not over but we’ve already started investigating, that would be like jumping the gun. Let FAM complete the appeal process first,” she said after visiting the Malaysian Sepak Takraw Academy in Kuala Lumpur.
She said FAM has not requested any assistance from her ministry regarding the appeal process as its lawyers are more knowledgeable about Fifa’s regulations.
Last month, Fifa alleged that FAM had submitted falsified documents to verify the seven players’ eligibility, which allowed them to play in the 2027 Asian Cup qualifier against Vietnam in June.
All the seven players – Gabriel Felipe Arrocha, Facundo Garces, Rodrigo Holgado, Imanol Machuca, Joao Figueiredo, Jon Irazabal and Hector Hevel – featured in the match which Malaysia won 4-0.
FAM was fined 350,000 Swiss francs (about RM1.8 million), while each player was individually fined 2,000 Swiss francs (about RM 10,560) and handed a 12-month suspension from all football-related activities.
Fifa’s disciplinary committee said that contrary to documents submitted by FAM claiming the players’ grandparents were born in Malaysia, its investigation found original records indicating they were born in Spain, Argentina, Brazil and the Netherlands.
Asian Football Confederation secretary-general Windsor Paul John said yesterday it would wait until FAM has exhausted every legal avenue before taking action against Harimau Malaya or local clubs fielding suspended players in the Malaysia League.
He said FAM has until March 31, 2026 – the final matchday of the Asian Cup qualifiers – to complete all appeals.
“AFC must wait until all legal processes are completed. Fifa’s disciplinary committee has issued its decision, and FAM’s next steps are to appeal to the Fifa appeals committee and then the Court of Arbitration for Sport,” he told Harian Metro.
He also said Fifa’s football tribunal had yet to finalise its ruling on the players’ eligibility.