Malaysian media reacts as 7 naturalized players return to play

Malaysia's sports newspapers have collectively responded to the news that 7 naturalized players accused of document forgery have the chance to resume playing.

On January 26, the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) unexpectedly announced that the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) had approved the application to temporarily suspend the sanctions against the 7 naturalized players, who were banned by FIFA for one year due to allegations of document forgery.

Immediately after, several well-known Malaysian sports newspapers issued various reactions regarding this notable information.

The New Straits Times headline read "Seven naturalized players allowed to play after CAS approves suspension of sanctions, confirmed by FAM"and summarized the event as follows: "In a statement posted on Facebook, FAM confirmed that CAS had accepted the application for suspension filed by these seven players. This decision means the 12-month ban from all football activities imposed by FIFA has been temporarily halted.

According to FAM, the involved players are permitted to continue their careers and participate in all football activities until CAS delivers a final ruling on the appeal."

The Makan Bola considered this decision a turning point for Malaysia's national team in pursuing their 2026 goals: "This decision is seen as a positive step forward for Malaysia's national team, especially in the short and medium-term squad building plans, as the team enters a rebuilding phase and prepares for upcoming international tournaments."

Meanwhile, the Berita Harian reacted as follows: "According to the latest announcement from FAM, CAS has approved the request to suspend the sanctions filed by the group of 7 naturalized players. This means the 12-month ban from all football activities imposed by FIFA on these Malaysia national team players is temporarily lifted."

The issue originated last October when FIFA accused Malaysia's national team of using invalid documents for 7 naturalized players in two matches during the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers against Nepal and Vietnam. The players involved were Gabriel Palmero, Facundo Garces, Rodrigo Holgado, Imanol Machuca, Joao Figueiredo, Jon Irazabal, and Hector Hevel. After investigation, FIFA's disciplinary committee fined each player 2,000 Swiss francs and imposed a 12-month playing ban.

Before this verdict, FAM appealed. However, in November, FIFA upheld its decision and rejected the complaint. With no other options, FAM had to take the case to CAS aiming to clarify the legality of the players' naturalization process to protect the national team's interests. The final CAS ruling is expected soon, as Malaysia prepares for the decisive match against Vietnam in the last round of Group F for the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers.

If CAS rules unfavorably for Malaysia, the AFC will review the results of the two matches mentioned. In that case, Malaysia could be handed 0-3 defeats, which would significantly alter the competition in Group F and provide a considerable advantage to Vietnam on their path to the 2027 Asian Cup finals.

Nevertheless, the latest developments can be seen as a positive sign for Malaysian football, offering hope to resolve the allegations of forged naturalization documents against the seven players. This not only helps restore the national team's reputation but also provides a chance to avoid forfeiting matches, maintaining their competitive edge in the race for the 2027 Asian Cup finals qualification.