05/11/2025

SPORTS WEDNESDAY | NOV 5, 2025

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FAM accepts Fifa decision … but vows to champion rights of players, interests of Malaysian football T HE Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) has accepted Fifa’s decision rejecting its appeal over the documentation of seven Malaysian heritage players. Fifa in a statement earlier said its Appeal Committee has rendered its decision on the appeals lodged by FAM and seven heritage players against the decision issued by its Disciplinary Code (FDC) concerning forgery and falsification.

RESULTS & STANDINGS

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CHF2,000 (about RM10,560) and suspended for 12 months from all football-related activities. In its previous statement, Fifa said FAM had submitted falsified documents to confirm the eligi bility of the players, allowing them to compete in the third-round match of the 2027 Asian Cup Qualifiers against Vietnam on June 10. FAM had then explained that it had identified a technical error in the submission process involving the seven players’ documents, which was made by an administrative staff member. According to the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) secretary general Datuk Seri Windsor John, they will only begin its disciplinary review through the disciplinary committee once the final decision is received from the Fifa or CAS. – Bernama

Acting FAM President Datuk Mohd Yusoff Mahadi said that they would write to Fifa to obtain full details and written reasons of the decision before taking the next step to submit an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS). “This is the first time FAM is facing this type of situation, and the lawyers and our management are very shocked by this decision. “However, FAM will continue to strongly cham pion the rights of our players and the interests of Malaysian football at the international level,” he said in a statement on Monday night.

The seven players involved are Gabriel Felipe Arrocha, Facundo Garces, Rodrigo Holgado, Imanol Machuca, Joao Figueiredo, Jon Irazabal and Hector Hevel. It said after analysing the submissions and con ducting a hearing, the appeal committee decided to dismiss the appeals, and upheld the sanctions imposed upon FAM and the seven national heri tage players. As a result, FAM was fined CHF350,000 (about RM1.8 million), while each player was fined

M’sian shuttlers more skilful than China’s: Kim Wai

JDT to go on offensive

against Shanghai Shenhua: Munoz

The multi-sport event, also known as the Summer Deaflympics, will take place from Nov 15 to 26. “The weather there is quite cold. All athletes have undergone health checks at the National Sports Institute (ISN) and have been confirmed to be in good condition,” he said. “Some of our athletes have experience com peting in previous editions of the Games under cold conditions. So, in Japan, we will do our best to adapt.” Zii Jia out of Kumamoto Masters PROFESSIONAL men’s singles shuttler Lee Zii Jia’s return to court appears to be on hold, as he has been marked ‘withdrawn’ from the 2025 Kumamoto Masters Japan Badminton Championships slated to be held from Nov 11 16. The latest update was confirmed by the JOHOR DARUL TA’ZIM (JDT) are prepared to deliver a high-intensity performance when they face Shanghai Shenhua FC in their AFC Champions League Elite (ACLE) 2025/26 group match at the Sultan Ibrahim Stadium in Isakandar Puteri, Johor today. Head coach Xisco Munoz (pic) said his players are ready to raise their tempo and play with aggression as they target a crucial home victory. “We have to push the intensity and be aggressive in the duels. We’ll try to score and secure the three points,” he said at a pre-match press conference yes terday. Munoz acknowledged that away matches in the competition are always challenging, which makes performing strongly at home all the more important. “I think our last game in China was a very positive one, both in performance and result. We just want to continue this winning momentum and keep the same intensity,” he added. Meanwhile, Shanghai Shenhua head coach Leonid Slutskiy expects a tough challenge from the Southern Tigers, praising JDT’s distinctive playing style and strong home record. He described JDT as one of the most dynamic and entertaining teams in the competition, noting their technical ability and attacking flair. “When you play against Japanese or Korean teams, you know what to expect: high tempo, disci

Badminton World Federation (BWF), which listed several withdrawals from the Super 500 tourna ment, including Paris 2024 Olympic Games gold medallist from Denmark, Viktor Axelsen, his com patriot Anders Antonsen and Indonesian players Jonatan Christie and Anthony Sinisuka Ginting. However, Zii Jia’s team (Team LZJ) has yet to reveal the main reason behind his withdrawal. On Oct 1, Team LZJ via a post on Instagram informed that the Paris 2024 bronze medallist had been advised by medical expert to undergo an extended rehabilitation programme for per sistent low back pain. As such, the 2021 All England champion had missed three European assignments recently namely Denmark Open, French Open and Hylo Open. Zii Jia last played at the 2025 China Masters in September where he was forced to retire in the deciding set of his opening-round match against Taiwan’s Lin Chun-Yi. pline and similar patterns, but JDT are completely different. For me, it’s like watching a Spanish team play in the Asian Champions League,” he added. But Munoz was quick to assert that his squad is not a shadow of any Spanish club, but rather has its own identity that was formed through hard work and high discipline. “I refute the claim by Shanghai Shenhua coach that JDT is like a Spanish club in the ACLE. “The rules allow imported players to play on the Asian elite stage and we have imported and national players ready to be fielded. We are JDT, not a shadow of a Spanish club,” he said. Munoz said that, although he himself is from Spain, JDT’s playing style is built on the strength of the team, not external influences and stressed that the focus is now only on defeating Shanghai Shenhua. “Currently, the players’ momentum is in a positive state and must be maintained. “Character and tactics also need to be improved, including the intensity of the game and avoiding the opposing team dominating the game because it is important if you want to achieve victory,” he said. JDT defeated Shanghai Shenhua 3-0 in their ACLE encounter last season. JDT’s campaign last season ended in the Round of 16 after losing 1-0 on aggregate to Buriram United. – Bernama/Agencies

NEWLY minted national men’s doubles assistant coach Chang Kim Wai (pic) believes that Malaysian pairs are generally more skilful than their Chinese counter parts, who rely more on speed and power. The 49-year-old coach, who recently returned from a coaching stint in China’s Guangxi province, said that while both countries have their own strengths, Malaysia’s advantage lies in its players’ refined skills and creativity on court. “In my view, our shuttlers are steadier and more skilful than China’s players. During training just now, they displayed good movements and creative shots. “Players from China tend to use speed and power in their game,”he told reporters when met on his first day of duty in Kuala Lumpur yesterday. Having only just rejoined the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) setup, Kim Wai admitted that he needs time to study the players’ individual styles and characteristics before making any further assessment. On the men’s doubles competition at world level, Kim Wai said the field is now more open and competitive, with no single dominant pair. “Currently, there are no consistent pairs on the world stage, and it’s a matter of which pair hits form in a tournament. “Previously, the finals will be contested by the same two pairs, but that is no longer the case. As Malaysia has several men’s pairs in the top 10, our chances (of winning) are higher,” he said. Three Malaysian pairs are now ranked in the world’s top 10, namely 2022 world champions Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik (2nd), Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani (4th) and Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun (5th). Kim Wai is working alongside men’s doubles head coach Herry Iman Pierngadi and Muhammad Miftakh to further strengthen the department. Kim Wai is a former Commonwealth and Asian Games silver medallist and also a member of Malaysia’s 2002 Thomas Cup squad who won silver. – Bernama

SHORTS

Athletes ready for the cold THE national contingent for the Tokyo 2025 Deaflympics is now in the final phase of prepara tion, with the main focus placed on health and adaptation to Japan’s cold weather, which is cur rently around 14°C. Chef de Mission (CDM) Mohd Yusri Abdul Ghani said all athletes had been reminded to take care of their health and remain focused ahead of their departure early tomorrow morn ing to the Land of the Rising Sun. “We are scheduled to depart tomorrow and will arrive in Miyoshi (Tokyo) to undergo training and acclimatisation for two weeks before the Games begin,” he said when met at the handing over of the Jalur Gemilang to the contingent by Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh here today.