A series of naturalized Malaysian players have been suspended from playing

The trio of naturalized players from Johor Darul Ta’zim—Figueiredo, Irazabal, and Hevel—are suspended from all tournaments within the Malaysia League framework.

According to Asean Football, the Football Association of Malaysia (MFL) has confirmed that three foreign stars of Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT)—Joao Figueiredo, Jon Irazabal, and Hector Hevel—have been officially suspended from all Malaysia League competitions. This decision follows FIFA’s announcement of penalties related to violations by the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) during the registration process of naturalized players.

As stated by MFL, none of the three players will be allowed to participate in any matches until the sanctions are lifted. This means JDT will lose three key players during the crucial phase of the season. Figueiredo is a leading striker, Irazabal provides defensive stability, while Hevel is a creative force in midfield.

The absence of these three "domestic" players is considered a significant setback for JDT’s ambition to dominate the national league and to advance deeply in continental and regional tournaments. Given that JDT still leads the Malaysian Super League, the personnel shortage could put the team in a difficult position as they compete on multiple fronts.

This issue is not only a challenge for JDT but also directly impacts the image of Malaysian football. Following FIFA’s sanction related to the use of forged documents to legitimize naturalized players, numerous consequences have affected both clubs and the national team.

The suspension of these key players demonstrates FIFA’s strict regulatory enforcement and serves as a warning to other football associations about the importance of transparency in management.

JDT must quickly find solutions to adapt to this new situation since direct rivals like Kuala Lumpur and Terengganu will surely seize this opportunity to close the gap in the standings.

Nevertheless, JDT is still regarded as the Malaysian club with the deepest squad. This period will be an opportunity for younger players or less frequently used members to prove their abilities, thereby reducing the impact of the absence of key players.