In an interview with the New Straits Timeshe was referring to the Football Association of Malaysia’s appeal to CAS after FIFA sanctioned it last December for falsifying the naturalization documents of seven foreign-born players.

Recently CAS held a hearing where both sides presented evidence and made arguments. It is expected to announce its verdict next week.

Malaysian national team chief executive Rob Friend expressed optimism after the 12-hour hearing.

Public opinion across Southeast Asia has pressured CAS to deliver a swift decision to close a case that has entered its sixth month.

Zhafri said he trusts the integrity of CAS and does not believe it will be swayed by online debate or outside pressure.

It could consult experts if needed and would apply the legal standard of balance of probabilities, meaning a claim must be more likely true than not, he explained.

“They examine whether each document is genuine, whether it matches other records and whether any inconsistencies were accidental or intentional.”

“Their job is to reach a conclusion based on evidence, not noise from outside.”

He said the Feb. 26 hearing provides the basis for the panel to deliberate in private, compare notes, reassess the evidence, and decide which facts to accept.

“CAS takes several weeks or months after a hearing.”

He listed four possible outcomes in the case.

First, CAS could fully clear FAM if it finds the evidence does not support the allegations, and this would restore the players’ rights.

Second, CAS could partially overturn the sanctions, rejecting some of FIFA’s findings, which could alter the overall effect of the penalties.

Third, if the court accepts mitigating factors, it could reduce the severity of the sanctions.

Fourth, it could uphold all of FIFA’s penalties.

Once the court issues its verdict, both sides must comply with it.

For the alleged falsification of naturalization documents, FAM was fined 350,000 Swiss francs (more than US$450,000). The seven players are Joao Figueiredo of Brazil; Rodrigo Holgado, Imanol Machuca and Facundo Garces of Argentina; Jon Irazabal and Gabriel Palmero of Spain; and Hector Hevel of the Netherlands.

They all received 12-month bans and additional fines of 2,000 francs ($2,600).

In December FIFA had also ruled that Malaysia lost 0-3 in friendlies against Cape Verde, Singapore and Palestine for fielding the ineligible naturalized players.

If the appeal fails, Malaysia’s national teams and clubs could be barred from international competitions for a certain period.

Since 2020 appellants such as FAM have succeeded in overturning FIFA decisions at CAS in about 13% of cases.

One notable example involved Brazilian forward Gabriel Barbosa, who got a 24-month suspension overturned after being accused of irregularities in a doping test.

Malaysian broadcaster Astro Arena said that appellants could succeed if they prove procedural or regulatory errors.

CAS operates as an independent court rather than simply endorse decisions by sports governing bodies, it added.