The committee’s chairman, Raus Sharif, a former chief justice, said the four-member panel held its first meeting today and would “prepare a report and provide recommendations for FAM’s consideration and follow-up action”.

The other three members of the committee are former Court of Appeal judge Kamaludin Said, former Administrative Modernisation and Management Planning Unit director-general Yusof Ismail, and senior lawyer Thavalingam C Thavarajah, who serves as secretary.

Raus said administrative and secretariat support for the committee will be provided by law firm Messrs Hafarizam Wan & Aisha Mubarak, instead of FAM, to ensure independence and avoid any conflict of interest.

He said none of the members will receive remuneration for their work.

The committee was formed on Oct 7 to investigate and recommend follow-up action to FAM after world football governing body Fifa sanctioned seven naturalised Malaysian players over eligibility issues linked to alleged document falsification.

Fifa fined FAM 350,000 Swiss francs (RM1.8 million) while each player was fined 2,000 Swiss francs (RM10,560) and suspended for 12 months from all football-related activities.

FAM has filed an official appeal with Fifa against the sanctions.

A decision had been expected on Oct 30, but FAM has not said whether it has received the official notification.