7 naturalized Malaysian players receive more good news

Following the temporary suspension of FIFA's ban by the Court of Arbitration for Sport, the market value of 7 naturalized Malaysian players collectively rose sharply before the crucial match with Vietnam's national team.

The naturalized players of the Malaysian national team unexpectedly received good news when the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) decided to temporarily suspend the 12-month playing ban imposed by FIFA. Although this decision is not the final ruling, it allows them to return to the field and has led to a significant change in their market value.

Previously, at the end of 2025, FIFA issued sanctions against the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) and 7 naturalized players for violations related to legal documentation. The ban caused all players to be valued at 0 Euro on the Transfermarkt website, reflecting their inability to compete for an extended period.

Unhappy with this decision, FAM appealed to FIFA but was rejected. The case was then brought to CAS seeking a fairer judgment. Recently, CAS confirmed the temporary suspension of sanctions, permitting the 7 players to continue playing while awaiting the official hearing on February 26.

Immediately, the market values of these players began to recover. The most notable case is defender Facundo Garces of Deportivo Alaves. After returning to play in La Liga, including the match against Espanyol on January 31, his value rose from 0 to 1 million Euros. This is a significant increase in a short period.

Not only Garces, but several other players also recorded positive new valuations. Imanol Machuca currently holds the highest value among the group, approximately 1.26 million Euros. Joao Figueiredo and Garces are both valued at 1 million Euros. Jon Irazabal is at 500,000 Euros, Hector Hevel at 345,000 Euros, Rodrigo Holgado at 237,000 Euros, while Gabriel Palmero remains temporarily at 0 Euro but is expected to rise soon after settling into his new club.

Being allowed to play again not only helps the players improve their individual values but also carries great significance for the Malaysian national team’s morale. The "Malayan Tigers" currently lead Group F of the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers with a perfect 15 points from 5 matches. Vietnam’s national team is second with 12 points.

The decisive match between the two teams will take place on March 31, 2026, at Thien Truong Stadium. Since only the group winner qualifies for the 2027 Asian Cup, Malaysia holds a strong advantage needing only to avoid a heavy defeat. Meanwhile, Vietnam must win by at least a four-goal margin to overturn the situation.

Although the ban is only temporarily suspended, the return of the naturalized players has clearly boosted Malaysian football both professionally and in transfer value. All eyes are now on CAS’s final ruling, which could determine not only the futures of these 7 players but also the regional football landscape.