Malaysian naturalized player speaks out on FIFA's heavy penalty

Defender Gabriel Palmero sent a message to Kuching City FC fans as he cannot play due to a suspension.

According to the latest information, four players Joao Figueiredo, Jon Irazabal, Hector Hevel, and Gabriel Palmero are officially banned from playing in the Malaysian national league after CAS rejected the appeal from the Malaysian Football Association.

In reality, despite the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) confirming there were no regulatory violations in the registration process of these four players, they still must comply with FIFA's ban.

Among the four players mentioned, Gabriel Palmero recently officially spoke out. Although he only managed to play three matches and score one goal for the team nicknamed "The Cats," Palmero left a certain impression during his short time wearing the Malaysian team jersey. In a video posted by Kuching City, this defender expressed gratitude to the team and its fans.

“Thank you for everything. From the very beginning of playing for Kuching City, I felt very comfortable and it was truly a wonderful experience. I wish the whole team and all the fans much luck. You have always been by my side,”Palmero shared.

According to plan, the Argentine defender will only be able to return to the pitch after his suspension officially ends in September 2026. It is still unclear whether Kuching City FC will continue to offer this player an opportunity when he becomes eligible to play again.

In the context of AFC extending the time for issuing a ruling on Malaysian football, the Vietnam Football Federation has taken certain actions. Specifically, VFF stated it will petition FIFA and AFC if the Asian football governing body issues an unreasonable, unfair ruling regarding the naturalized player scandal in Malaysian football.