“Let's shut out the noise and let the roar continue” was the headline in the New Strait Times (Malaysia) on July 6, responding to reports that the national team was punished by FIFA for mass naturalization.
The New Strait Times newspaper said that the Malaysian team naturalized players legally (Photo: BH Online).
The newspaper stressed: “Last month, Malaysia destroyed the Vietnamese team 4-0 at the packed Bukit Jalil National Stadium with a dominant, technical performance that showed new depth to the squad. But instead of receiving praise, Harimau Malaya (the nickname of the Malaysian team) had to face a wave of fierce criticism.
Social media exploded. Fans from Indonesia and Vietnam accuse Malaysia of “circumventing the rules” and manipulating the system. Conspiracy theories spread like wildfire. Some even called for FIFA to investigate. The reason? Not because of the way they played, but because of… who played.
In that match, 9/11 of Malaysia's starting players were naturalized. A total of 15 players were on the roster who were not born in Malaysia. 6 of them were making their international debuts, including Facundo Garces, Imanol Machuca, Joao Figueiredo, Rodrigo Hidalgo, Gabriel Palmero and Jon Irazabal.
None of them were born in Malaysia, but according to the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM), all of them are of Malaysian descent, with their records checked and approved by FIFA. However, that has not stopped a wave of protests from some public opinion.
Indonesian media, specifically Disway ID, started the storm, claiming that FAM could be fined up to $2 million, forfeited the match against the Vietnamese team, and even banned from using naturalized players in the future if fraudulent documents were discovered.
FAM immediately responded and spoke out to quell all doubts. “FIFA has checked. We fully comply with the regulations,” FAM President Datuk Joehari Ayub affirmed.
The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) also backed that stance, with general secretary Datuk Seri Windsor Paul confirming that the AFC had not received any complaints and that any player status issues were under FIFA's jurisdiction.
So far, FIFA has remained silent. No warnings, no penalties, no indication of any violations. But the controversy is not just about technicalities.
It is also about identity, perception and pride, especially with growing anxiety from fans and regional rivals about the rapid change in Harimau Malaya. Naturalization of players is not new in Southeast Asia.
Indonesia has long capitalized on its Dutch-born players. The Philippines has built an entire soccer program around players of Filipino descent born in the United States and Europe. Singapore experimented with naturalization in the early 2000s.
Even Timor Leste once brought in a series of Brazilian players but ended in disaster when it was discovered that they had fraudulent documents, leading to a major investigation by FIFA and AFC. Those players had no blood relation to Timor Leste, just fake birth and baptism certificates. That scandal once shook Asian football.
They think that Southeast Asian teams are jealous of Malaysian football so they are looking for ways to "attack" (Photo: VFF).
The newspaper said that criticism of the Malaysian team is unfair and jealous of the development of Malaysian football: "Comparing Malaysia with Timor Leste is biased and unfair. FAM has prepared carefully. All the players mentioned above have documents proving their Malaysian origin.
FIFA has carefully reviewed and approved the application. On paper and in practice, everything is in order. The real problem, perhaps, is that Malaysia is becoming a real threat. Harimau Malaya is no longer a “potential” team.
They have impressive squad depth, technical ability and physical attributes. Players like Figueiredo and Garces are not “sidekicks”. They are the difference makers.
The victory over Vietnam sent a clear message across Southeast Asia that Malaysia is now not just participating for fun, but is ready to rise to dominate football in the region.
And that makes many people uneasy. This is perhaps no longer a story about fairness, but rather about fear. Fear that Malaysia's aggressive citizenship strategy could tip the regional balance.
Even at home, public opinion is divided. Some are proud of the results. Others are concerned that the national football identity is being diluted. It is a fine line. But it is not illegal. Nor is it unethical, as long as the ancestry is authentic and the paperwork is in order.
International football has always been a mirror of global currents, migration, diaspora, dual citizenship. The world is changing, and football is changing with it.
Now, FAM needs to stand firm. No need to loudly protest, just stick to the fact that FIFA has approved. There is no misconduct. This squad is legal.
In fact, this wave of criticism is clear evidence that Malaysia is on the right track. They have made their opponents nervous. They have changed the game. And most importantly – they are winning again.
The next challenge is to build trust with the fans, and prove that these new recruits are not just “imports”, but part of the Harimau Malaya family, ready to fight for the title.
The noise may continue. The accusations may return. But if Malaysia continues to play the way they did against Vietnam, they can overwhelm the rest.”
Source: https://dantri.com.vn/the-thao/bao-malaysia-tuyen-bo-danh-thep-ve-thong-tin-doi-nha-bi-fifa-trung-phat-20250707094210755.htm
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