The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has provided a major lifeline to Malaysian football today by granting a stay of execution on the 12-month FIFA suspensions imposed on seven Harimau Malaya players. The Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) confirmed this morning that players including Garcés, Holgado, and Machuca are now cleared to return to all football-related activities effective immediately. This temporary ruling allows them to continue their professional careers while their final appeal against the FIFA sanction is being deliberated.

The seven players had previously been sidelined due to allegations surrounding document falsification during the naturalization process. The suspension had been a significant blow to the national team’s preparations for the upcoming Asian Cup Qualifiers. With this stay of execution, head coach Kim Pan-gon can now reconsider these key players for his starting lineup, providing a much-needed boost to the squad’s tactical depth.

FAM officials have expressed their gratitude for the CAS decision, emphasizing that the legal process is still ongoing. The "stay" does not mean the charges have been dropped, but it ensures that the players' livelihoods and the national team's progress are not unfairly compromised before a final verdict is reached. Malaysian football fans have welcomed the news, hoping that the legal cloud over these naturalized stars will soon be cleared permanently.