Naturalized Malaysian players face the risk of losing their entire careers

Naturalized Malaysian players face the threat of having their contracts ended and their market value diminished if FAM's appeal to FIFA is unsuccessful.

The future of Malaysia’s naturalized players is uncertain after the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) and seven players were sanctioned by FIFA’s Disciplinary Committee due to documentation issues. If their appeal fails, their careers could suffer serious consequences, including contract termination and a significant drop in market value.

According to Effendi Jagan Abdullah, CEO of Action Football Asia, the biggest risk these players face is contract termination without any compensation. Additionally, their transfer value and professional reputation will likely decline rapidly.

“If the 12-month suspension is upheld, their form and playing careers will be severely impacted. It is highly likely that clubs will proactively terminate contracts without compensation, or only provide compensation at their discretion,” Effendi commented.

Previously, FIFA determined that FAM and the seven naturalized players violated Article 22 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code related to the use of invalid documents. The sanctioned players include Joao Figueiredo, Jon Irazabal, Hector Hevel, Gabriel Palmero, Facundo Garces, Rodrigo Holgado, and Imanol Machuca.

Besides fines, these players face a 12-month ban from all football-related activities. FAM admitted to technical errors during the submission process and emphasized that the federation takes this matter seriously.

Currently, FAM is in the process of officially appealing to FIFA in hopes of reversing the decision. This effort is considered crucial to protect not only the players’ careers but also the reputation and image of Malaysian football internationally.

Mr. Effendi expressed hope that FIFA will reconsider the punishment to avoid long-term damage to these players’ careers. “They have been performing impressively at their clubs; a 12-month suspension is too harsh and could seriously disrupt their careers. We also don’t want this to negatively affect the national team’s strength,” he emphasized.

As Malaysian football places high hopes on its naturalized players, the public and fans are closely monitoring the case. The outcome of the appeal will determine the future of the seven players and the long-term personnel development strategy of FAM.