AFC says no investigation into Malaysia over alleged illegal use of naturalized players

"There has been no information submitted to the AFC on this matter," AFC general-secretary Datuk Seri Windsor Paul Windsor told New Straits Times. "Player status matters are under the purview of FIFA."

Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) General Secretary Datuk Azman Rahman said: "As of today (July 4), we have not received any notification from either FIFA or the AFC. We fully comply with all regulations and deny all allegations."

Argentine-born center-back Facundo Garces during 4-0 win of Malaysia over Vietnam in the second round of Group F of the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers, at Bukit Jalil Stadium, Malaysia on June 10, 2025. Photo by Malaysia NT

Their statements come in response to speculation that Malaysia could face sanctions over alleged issues in its naturalization process. Media outlets in Indonesia have accused Malaysia of document fraud, particularly in the case of Argentine-born midfielder Facundo Garces, who is reported to have a Malaysian grandmother. The controversy sparked rumors that both FIFA and the AFC might penalize Malaysia or even annul their 4-0 victory over Vietnam.

The naturalized players played a key role in that historic win during the final qualifying round of the 2027 AFC Asian Cup. Of the seven newly naturalized players who gained citizenship in early 2025, five started the match, while two others came on as substitutes. All four goals were scored by them, with Brazilian-born striker Joao Figueiredo opening the scoring and Argentine-born Rodrigo Holgado doubling the lead.

Under FIFA regulations, naturalization is permitted if a player has resided continuously in a country for at least five years or can prove lineage through a parent or grandparent. These rules align with naturalization laws in Malaysia and several other countries, including Vietnam.

National federations are required to submit complete documentation proving each player's eligibility, which must be reviewed and approved by FIFA before the player can represent their national team. FAM president Datuk Mohd Joehari Ayub stressed that all naturalized players have gone through this process.

"FIFA has checked everything, and at FAM, we are merely following the procedures and directives set by them," Ayub told the media on June 30. "If there were any issues, FIFA would not have granted approval. In this case, everything was cleared and done through the correct process."

Malaysia's dominant win on June 10 propelled them to the top of Group F in the Asian Cup qualifiers. With six points, they sit three points ahead of Vietnam and Laos, in a round-robin format that prioritizes head-to-head results.

Four matches remain for Malaysia in the qualifying stage: two against Laos, one against Nepal, and a crucial away match against Vietnam scheduled for March 31, 2026.

In the meantime, Malaysia are set to compete in the 2025 CAFA Nations Cup from August to September. At the tournament Malaysia will face two 2026 World Cup-qualified teams: Iran (18th on FIFA ranking) and Uzbekistan (57th). The remaining participants include Kyrgyzstan (103rd), Tajikistan (104th), Turkmenistan (142nd), and Afghanistan (160th). Seeding for the tournament will be based on current FIFA rankings. Malaysia, 131st, are placed in pot 4 as a guest team, alongside Oman (77th).