Malaysia could face consequences if it fields illegally naturalized players against Vietnam

Malaysian football expert Zakaria Rahim has warned of serious risks for the national team if it insists on using the seven recently returned naturalized players.

In an interview with Bharian, Zakaria Rahim emphasized that the seven illegally naturalized players who have just returned are still not cleared, so risking their inclusion could backfire if the final ruling from the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) is unfavorable to FAM.

“A suspension stay does not mean the ban is fully lifted. If players participate while awaiting CAS’s final decision and the team wins, there is a risk the result could be annulled and victory awarded to the opponent, just like in the previous three matches,” Zakaria stated.

“It’s like someone sentenced but granted a stay of execution pending appeal. If suspended from work, they still can’t enter the office. Their passport remains withheld if held by the court, it’s just that they aren’t imprisoned,” he illustrated.

Besides legal concerns, Zakaria questioned their physical condition and match fitness. He explained that these players have been unable to participate in football activities during their suspension, so returning immediately at the highest level is very difficult, similar to a player coming back after a long injury who needs time to regain form.

“Allowing those seven players to wear Malaysia’s jersey again is a very high risk and is best avoided, even though they might help secure a win against Vietnam in the upcoming match,” he assessed.

This development follows the announcement from the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) that CAS has approved the request for a stay of execution submitted by seven players: Facundo Garces, Rodrigo Holgado, Imanol Machuca, Joao Figueiredo, Gabriel Palmero, Jon Irazabal, and Hector Hevel.

CAS’s decision means the 12-month suspension imposed by FIFA on these players has been temporarily halted. They are allowed to continue their careers and participate in football-related activities until CAS issues a final ruling on the appeal.

AFC Secretary General Datuk Seri Windsor Paul John explained that although CAS approved the suspension stay, whether these players can compete for Malaysia in international matches still depends on AFC receiving full details from FIFA.

The Malaysian national team is scheduled to play the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers against Vietnam at the Thien Truong Sports Center (Nam Dinh) on March 31.