Malaysian football caught in controversy over origins of naturalized players

On June 10, Malaysia stunned regional rival Vietnam with a thumping 4-0 win in the second round of Group F during the final qualifying stage of the 2027 Asian Cup. It was Malaysia’s largest-ever victory against Vietnam and was heavily influenced by newly naturalized players.

Of the seven players granted Malaysian citizenship since early 2025, five were in the starting lineup, with the rest coming off the bench. All four goals were either scored or assisted by these players, including Brazilian-born striker Joao Figueiredo, who opened the scoring and Argentine-born forward Rodrigo Holgado, who doubled the lead.

Malaysia players celebrate a goal in the 4-0 win against Vietnam in the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers on June 10, 2025. Photo by MalaysiaNT

However, celebrations were quickly overshadowed by questions surrounding the legality of the players’ naturalization.

Indonesian media accused Malaysia of document fraud, particularly in the case of Argentine-born centre-back Facundo Garces, who reportedly has a Malaysian grandmother. The allegations sparked rumors that FIFA and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) might investigate Malaysia and even cancel the result of the match against Vietnam.

"The foreign-born naturalized players have come to Kuala Lumpur, played for Malaysia and have gone back to where they came from," New Strait Times wrote. "Yet, the debate over their ancestry, their lineage, their connection to Malaysia refuses to go away.

"It's an unusual situation, in fact, something which Malaysian football has never experienced. Some fans can't pronounce the names of their national players, some have problems remembering who is who and from where."

The Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) was criticized for allegedly withholding details about the players’ backgrounds.

In response, FAM president Datuk Mohd Joehari Ayub insisted that all players underwent FIFA eligibility checks and were fully compliant with international regulations.

"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 we need to reveal it, we have no problem doing so. If there were any issues, FIFA would not have granted approval. In this case, everything was cleared and done through the correct process."

AFC said it has not received official allegations and thus has not open any investigation regarding the case.

FIFA permits naturalization provided players can prove five years of continuous residency or show ancestral ties through a parent or grandparent, a standard set by both Malaysia and Vietnam.

The naturalization controversy also overshadowed the FAM’s Extraordinary Congress held on June 30. The event was intended to honor former president Hamidin Mohd Amin for his contributions to Malaysian football and unveil the federation’s long-term goal of hosting the World Cup.

Coach Peter Cklamovski during a training session of Malaysia national team. Photo by VnExpress/Hai Tu

Adding to the controversy were remarks by head coach Peter Cklamovski after the Vietnam match.

"Internal matters are going on, elements of betrayal, politics, and daily internal challenges we face," Cklamovski said. "If we hadn't won tonight, they would have gone after TMJ (Tunku Ismail), they would have gone after me, saying I'm a terrible coach. They would have blamed the players. But now, suddenly, they'll become our best friends. That's good, because we're united as a country."

Cklamovski’s comments fueled speculation about internal conflicts and resistance to the policy of naturalizing foreign-born players.

"We need to find out what Cklamovski meant by that," said Ayub after FAM's Extraordinary Congress.

Malaysia’s next campaign will begin in late August as the team prepares for the 2025 CAFA Nations Cup. They are expected to face strong competition, including two 2026 World Cup qualifiers: Iran (18th on FIFA ranking) and Uzbekistan (57). The other participating teams are Kyrgyzstan (103), Tajikistan (104), Turkmenistan (142), and Afghanistan (160). Seedings will be based on FIFA rankings, with Malaysia currently 131st but placed in pot 4 as guests.