Provoking Vietnamese Fans, Illegal Naturalized Malaysian Player Sparks Outrage

The act of raising a hand to taunt supporters at Thien Truong Stadium by a JDT player triggered public anger and revived debates about Malaysia's football naturalization case.

The 1-1 draw between Nam Dinh and Johor Darul Ta’zim at Thien Truong Stadium concluded the emotional group stage of the Shopee Cup 2025/26. JDT had three naturalized players eligible for the match against Nam Dinh: Hector Hevel, Joao Figueiredo, and Jon Irazabal, but their starting lineup and registered squad choices sparked considerable controversy before kickoff.

Nam Dinh did not register Nguyen Xuan Son but started aggressively, applying strong pressure from the outset. After missing several chances, the home team scored from a rebound following a missed penalty. The first half ended with Nam Dinh in the lead, but the tense atmosphere was quickly intensified by a "provocative" action from a naturalized player of the Malaysian team.

The focus beyond the sport came at the end of the first half when Joao Figueiredo walked past the stands and made a provocative gesture towards the fans. The forward showed four fingers, understood as a display of pride for the 4-0 victory over the Vietnamese national team in the Asian Cup 2027 qualifiers in June 2025, which stirred a strong reaction from the crowd at Thien Truong Stadium.

From a personnel perspective, JDT faced questions for starting Hector Hevel—a naturalized player considered "illegal." Joao Figueiredo initially sat on the bench and was only brought on at the 40th minute, while Jon Irazabal was not included in the match roster. These changes further drew public attention to JDT.

In the second half, Nam Dinh continued to waste opportunities by missing another penalty. This wastefulness cost the home team in the 87th minute when JDT equalized from the penalty spot. The final 1-1 score was enough for Nam Dinh to top the group with 13 points and advance confidently to the Shopee Cup semifinals.

The issue of Malaysia's football naturalization remains heated as the CAS hearing is scheduled for February 26, with a ruling expected in March, close to Malaysia's match against Vietnam in the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers. Potential sanctions and AFC oversight could disrupt Malaysia's squad, adding fuel to the controversy surrounding JDT’s recent match.