30/09/2025

SPORTS TUESDAY | SEPT 30, 2025

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‘FAM needs external expert help in Fifa appeal’

THE Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) has been urged to immediately set up a strong legal team to handle the appeal proceedings over the sanctions imposed on the national football governing body and its seven heritage players by Fifa recently. Former FAM Executive Committee member Datuk Christopher Raj also suggested that FAM should not just rely on its Disciplinary Committee members, but instead seek the views and assistance of external experts to strengthen the appeal and prepare for the possibility of legal action by Fifa. Christopher, who described the fiasco as

been identified in the process of submitting documents by the governing body’s administrative staff. Noor Azman said FAM takes the matter seriously and stressed that the players involved are legitimate Malaysian citizens. He said FAM is awaiting Fifa’s full judgment before filing an appeal in accordance with existing legal processes. – Bernama

penalised by Fifa’s Disciplinary Committee for violating Article 22 of the Fifa Disciplinary Code concerning document falsification. The seven players sanctioned are Gabriel Felipe Arrocha, Facundo Garces, Rodrigo Holgado, Imanol Machuca, Joao Figueiredo, Jon Irazabal and Hector Hevel. On Sunday, FAM secretary-general Datuk Noor Azman Rahman admitted that a technical error had

another dark moment in the history of football in the country, said FAM needs to do so since the matter has been referred by the Fifa Disciplinary Committee to the Fifa Football Tribunal, which comprises former lawyers with decades of experience. “So, FAM cannot take their expertise lightly,” he said in a statement yesterday. On Friday, FAM and seven heritage players were

Confident Southern Tigers Machida Zelvia all fired up ahead of ACLE clash J OHOR DARUL TA’ZIM (JDT) remain optimistic ahead of their Asian Football Confederation (AFC)

RESULTS & STANDINGS

ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE: Aston Villa 3 (Watkins 37, McGinn 49, Buendia 51) Fulham 1 (Jimenez 3), Newcastle 1 (Woltemade 34) Arsenal 2 (Merino 84, Gabriel 90+6) . P W D L F A Pts Liverpool 6 5 0 1 12 7 15 Arsenal 6 4 1 1 12 3 13 Crystal Palace 6 3 3 0 8 3 12 Tottenham 6 3 2 1 11 4 11 Sunderland 6 3 2 1 7 4 11 Bournemouth 6 3 2 1 8 7 11 Man City 6 3 1 2 14 6 10 Chelsea 6 2 2 2 11 8 8 Brighton 6 2 2 2 9 9 8 Fulham 6 2 2 2 7 8 8 Leeds 6 2 2 2 6 9 8 Everton 5 2 1 2 6 5 7 Brentford 6 2 1 3 9 11 7 Man Utd 6 2 1 3 7 11 7 Newcastle 6 1 3 2 4 5 6 Aston Villa 6 1 3 2 4 6 6 Nottm Forest 6 1 2 3 5 10 5 Burnley 6 1 1 4 6 13 4 West Ham 5 1 0 4 5 13 3 SPANISH LA LIGA: Rayo Vallecano 0 Sevilla 1 (Adams 87) , Elche 2 (Silva 18, Donald 68) Celta Vigo 1 (Iglesias 22) , Barcelona 2 (Kounde 43, Lewandowski 59) Real Sociedad 1 (Odriozola 31) , Real Betis 2 (Abde 19, Hernandez 38) Osasuna 0. TOP 6 P W D L F A Pts Barcelona 7 6 1 0 21 5 19 Real Madrid 7 6 0 1 16 8 18 Villarreal 7 5 1 1 13 5 16 Elche 7 3 4 0 10 6 13 A. Madrid 7 3 3 1 14 9 12 Real Betis 7 3 3 1 11 7 12 ITALIAN SERIE A: Lecce 2 (Coulibaly 13, Camarda 90+4) Bologna 2 (Orsolini 45+1, Odgaard 71) , AC Milan 2 (Saele maekers 3, Pulisic 31) Napoli 1 (De Bruyne 60-pen) , Pisa 0 Fiorentina 0, Roma 2 (Dovbyk 7, Soule 79) Verona 0, Sassuolo 3 (Lauriente 8, Kone 12, Iannoni 81) Udinese 1 (Davis 55) . TOP 6 P W D L F A Pts AC Milan 5 4 0 1 9 3 12 Napoli 5 4 0 1 10 5 12 Roma 5 4 0 1 5 1 12 Juventus 5 3 2 0 9 5 11 Atalanta 5 2 3 0 10 4 9 Inter Milan 5 3 0 2 12 7 9 GERMAN BUNDESLIGA: Union Berlin 0 Hamburg 0, Cologne 1 Stuttgart 2, Freiburg 1 Hoffenheim 1 . TOP 6 P W D L F A Pts Bayern Munich 5 5 0 0 22 3 15 B. Dortmund 5 4 1 0 11 3 13 RB Leipzig 5 4 0 1 7 7 12 E.Frankfurt 5 3 0 2 17 13 9 Stuttgart 5 3 0 2 7 6 9 Leverkusen 5 2 2 1 10 8 8 FRENCH LIGUE 1: Nice 1 Paris FC 1, Angers 0 Brest 2, Metz 0 Le Havre 0, Lille 0 Lyon 1, Rennes 0 Lens 0. TOP 6 P W D L F A Pts Paris SG 6 5 0 1 12 4 15 Lyon 6 5 0 1 8 3 15 Marseille 6 4 0 2 12 5 12 Monaco 6 4 0 2 14 10 12 Strasbourg 6 4 0 2 9 7 12 Lille 6 3 1 2 13 9 10

sometimes we suffer. “For us, it’s about continuing our style, having possession of the ball, and being consistent through out the game. No switching off because that can cause problems,” he added. Defender Shane Lowry acknowledged the challenge but stressed the team’s determination to rise to the occasion. “Everyone in the squad wants to play. Training has been good, morale is good. We know it’s going to be difficult because the Japanese League (J.League) is one of the best in Asia. But these are the games we want to play to test ourselves at the highest level. “We must avoid losing focus. Japanese teams are technically, tactically and physically strong. These games are about mentality, being switched on for 90 minutes, and knowing that small details can decide the result,” he said. Meanwhile, Machida Zelvia head coach Go Kuroda said his men are eager to embrace their ACL debut and impose their style of play, having started their cam paign with a 1-1 draw with FC Seoul of South Korea. He expressed confidence in his team’s defensive strength, noting that they have one of the best defensive records in the J.League. “First of all, this is the first time FC Machida Zelvia are playing in the ACL. It’s tough, but we want to showcase our style and our strength in this competition. “We don’t want to think too much about our opponents or change too much. Of course, I respect JDT because they are good, but we are prepared to face them,” he added. Defender Yuta Nakayama ech oed his coach’s optimism and called on his teammates to make the most of the opportunity. “As the manager said, this is our ACLE debut. We are really excited to play. Tomorrow, we’re going to fight strongly and take home all three points,” he said. – Bernama

JDT’s Arif Aiman (left) fights for the ball with Buriram’s Lucas Crispim during the match. – BERNAMAPIC

Champions League Elite (ACLE) 2025-26 East Zone group-stage clash against Japan’s Machida Zelvia FC at the Sultan Ibrahim Stadium tonight (8.15pm). JDT head coach Xisco Munoz said their main aim for tonight’s game is to stay focused on deliver

ing their best perform ance, especially after losing 2-1 to

Thailand’s Buriram United in their opening tie on Sept 16. “We will try our level best. We have

good players in the squad, and this is the chance for others to step up. The most important thing is to pick the best starting 11, and for them to give their best,” Munoz told the pre match press confer ence yesterday. He said this when asked about the Southern Tigers’ preparations for tomor row after three of their players – Hector Hevel, Joao Figueiredo and Jon Irazabal – were suspended by Fifa from all football-related activi ties for alleged forgery of docu mentation to justify their eligibility to play for Malaysia. Munoz reiterated the impor tance of JDT’s squad depth in over coming this setback, insisting morale in the camp remains high. “It’s important to have con trol in different parts, espe cially in midfield. I trust my team as I know their capacity. Against the b e s t

teams in Asia,

it is always diffi

cult, but we must adapt to situa tions… sometimes we control,

FT target seven golds to regain overall Sopma title AFTER last winning the Malaysian Deaf Games (Sopma) in 2018, the Federal Territory contingent is determined to recapture the overall champion in the 2025 edition to be held in Kuching, Sarawak from Oct 1-7. “After all, we have the Southeast Asian Deaf sprint king Muhammad Zamir Azman, who just won in Jakarta recently,” he said after the official announcement of the Federal Territory contingent to Sopma yesterday.

Aug 20-26). The matter is still under study. We just hope that when deaf athletes win, we will get (rewarded with) incentives,” he said. For the record, Sopma (XXI) 2023 was won by the Sabah contingent (16 golds, 13 silvers, six bronzes) with the biennial games specifically staged for deaf athletes in Malaysia. The evolution of the games began in 1985 as the Deaf Club Sports Championship (KSAKP) before it evolved into the National Deaf Games (SKOP) from 1990 to 2002 and using the official name Sopma since 2003. – Bernama

Commenting on MSDeaf, Ong stressed that he is still working to ensure that Sopma is accorded recognition on par with the Malaysia Games (Sukma) and Para Sukma in the near future. “(The) Last time I met with Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh was before going to Jakarta (for Southeast Asian Deaf Games from

The president of Federal Territory Deaf Sports Association and Malaysian Deaf Sports Association (MSDeaf) Ong Shin Ruenn said FT are targeting seven gold medals, notably in tenpin bowling and athletics. “We are sending 60 athletes with a target of seven golds and we want to return as the overall champion.