Dollah Salleh could be given a reprieve by Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) after being banned for 18 months for criticising a referee, with the nation's coaches' association standing firmly behind him.
The Pahang boss received the hefty sentence on Saturday, which will ban him from the touchline for a minimum of nine months -- until April next year.
But Dollah has received the backing of the Football Coaches Association Malaysia (FCAM), who will assist him in reducing the ban.
"A nine-month outright ban is too much," FCAM president and Felda United coach B. Satiananthan told ESPN FC.
"You can't take away his rice bowl like this. He has been a national player, coach and has served his country well. He made a mistake, so fine him and give him a stern warning, but let him carry on with the job."
Dollah's punishment came after criticism of the match official following his team's last-minute 2-1 loss to Felda United in the Malaysia Super League on July 1.
FAM president TMJ had later justified the punishment, saying it was okay for Dollah to comment on the quality of refereeing, but he went too far by suggesting the official may have influenced the result.
The duo were later pictured having coffee at the Southern Tigers ground, an indication that Dollah may make a quicker than expected return to the dugout.
Dollah returned to Pahang before the start of the 2017 season. As national boss, he took Malaysia to the final of the 2014 AFF Suzuki Cup, but departed in Sep. 2015 after a record 10-0 defeat to United Arab Emirates in 2018 AFC World Cup qualifying.
Satia urged his compatriot to appeal the sanction.
"Dollah must appeal, and we will go through the proper channel to make them [FAM disciplinary committee] understand. As a coach, he has the right to talk about the match. He is a coach, not a psychologist.
"I was in the same situation before this. I spoke about the quality of the field, and they banned me for six months. I ended up not having a job for 18 months. Dollah has a got a family to feed and they must understand that."
Dollah was punished under the Article 88 statuette, a draconian ruling that previously deemed only the president and secretary-general can make statements on Malaysian football.
Satia added: "We have to follow the rules, but the question is how do you apply that Article 88. Dollah has committed this offence for the first time."