Former FAM general secretary Azzuddin Ahmad said it is not proper to suspend someone “based on an investigation”.

“The secretariat’s daily duties must run smoothly,” Astro Arena quoted him as saying on the Nadi Arena programme today.

Noor Azman was suspended on Oct 17 amid the controversy surrounding allegations that falsified documents were submitted to Fifa to enable the seven players to represent the national team.

FAM deputy president S Sivasundaram told a press conference the association had formed a committee pending Fifa’s decision on the appeal, and that Noor Azman had been suspended with immediate effect to allow the committee to carry out its duties.

Fifa is expected to announce its decision on Oct 30.

Azzuddin said the final decision lay in Fifa’s hands despite FAM’s defence that it had made a “technical error” in the documents submitted to field the players in an Asian Cup qualifier.

“You may shake hands with the Fifa president (Gianni Infantino), but rules are rules,” he said, in an apparent reference to Infantino’s visit to Kuala Lumpur next week for the Asean Summit.

“You must be prepared for any outcome, either suspension or a heavier fine.

“This is because there is no reason to fight Fifa. I guarantee you that it has all the details in its pocket.”

Fifa’s disciplinary committee earlier announced that FAM must pay a fine of 350,000 Swiss francs (RM1.8 million), while each of the seven players had been fined 2,000 Swiss francs (RM11,000) in addition to a 12-month suspension.