OFFICIAL: AFF still does not impose a 0-3 forfeit loss on the Malaysian team.

The Southeast Asian Football Federation (AFF) has decided not to impose any penalties on Malaysia's Johor Darul Ta'zim Club.

The Southeast Asian Football Federation (AFF) confirms that it will not pursue any further legal action against Johor Darul Ta'zim Club (JDT) following a prolonged investigation. This decision was made after the regional football governing body comprehensively reviewed all documents, evidence, and current regulations, and found no violations by the Malaysian club regarding the use of naturalized players from the Malaysian national team.

Previously, the case sparked controversy when JDT utilized several players who had been sanctioned by FIFA concerning naturalization issues. Three notable names include Joao Figueiredo, Jon Irazabal, and Héctor Hevel, who were illegal naturalized players for the Malaysian national team. Their appearance in the Shopee Cup 2025/26 raised public questions about the validity of this club's player registration.

Not only that, JDT also drew attention by fielding a large number of foreign players. In the match against Lion City Sailors, the club used up to eight foreign players, and the number even increased to around ten when facing True Bangkok United. This further intensified suspicions of violating player quota regulations.

However, according to the official announcement on 14/04/2026, AFF stated that all related players had valid Malaysian nationality at the time of registration. Therefore, they are not considered foreign players under tournament regulations, meaning JDT did not breach any squad limitations.

Additionally, AFF emphasized that there is no evidence indicating JDT used forged documents during player registration. The organization stated that the lengthy investigation was due to the complexity of the case, including awaiting results from international legal procedures to ensure an objective and fair assessment. Thus, JDT will not be handed a 0-3 forfeit loss, unlike the Malaysian national team which was penalized by AFC in the recent Asian Cup 2027 qualifiers.

Closing the case, AFF reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining transparency and integrity for regional tournaments. The organization stated that any arising issues will continue to be handled based on clear regulations, ensuring fairness for all participating clubs.

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