Speaking in Kuala Lumpur, AFC Secretary General Windsor Paul John stated that eligibility regulations in this case apply solely to national teams. Therefore, clubs with players on the sanctioned list are still permitted to participate in Asian competitions.

"Regulations concerning eligibility fall within the scope of national teams. For AFC club competitions, there are no nationality criteria for players to participate," Mr. Windsor said.

Jon Irazabal, Joao Figueiredo, and Hector Hevel (from left) in the jersey of Malaysian club Johor Darul Ta'zim. Photo: JDT

This declaration means Malaysian teams, especially Johor Darul Ta'zim (JDT), will continue to compete normally in regional and continental tournaments. Three JDT players among those suspended include: Joao Figueiredo, Hector Hevel, and Jon Irazabal.

According to the AFC, FIFA's ban on the players applies only to official national team matches. This does not affect their ability to play for their clubs in AFC-organized competitions like the AFC Champions League Elite or regional tournaments such as the ASEAN Club Championship.

The issue originated from a scandal involving falsified documents related to eligibility to play for the Malaysian national team. Seven players, believed to have Malaysian ancestral origins, were found to have used invalid documents for international registration.

After reviewing an appeal, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) upheld the 12-month suspension for all seven players. However, the ban applies only to official matches, not all football-related activities.

In addition to the three JDT players, the list also includes: Gabriel Palmero, Imanol Machuca, Facundo Garces, and Rodrigo Holgado. All seven had been called up to the Malaysian national team and played in the 4-0 victory over Vietnam in an Asian Cup 2027 qualifier on 10/6/2025.

According to Mr. Windsor, FIFA may launch a further investigation after the CAS appeals process concludes. He indicated that the next focus could be on the individuals behind the preparation and validation of the relevant documents.

"Another aspect within FIFA's jurisdiction is to investigate individuals involved, such as agents or officials who participated in this process," he said. "To say the matter is over might not be accurate. Investigations often unfold in phases."

According to Malaysian newspaper Sinar Harian, FIFA is examining the roles of intermediaries and player agents. These names were mentioned in FIFA's detailed 64-page decision on 6/10/2025.

That report called for an investigation into those who assisted in the communication and document preparation process between the players and the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM). Under FIFA regulations, all player agents must be registered and regulated by the organization.

If regulatory violations are found, FIFA could impose additional disciplinary measures on the individuals involved. This has led many observers to likening the situation to an unfinished crime drama.

Meanwhile, the AFC stated that it has received the full case file from FIFA and is undertaking review steps with FAM. However, any actions, if taken, would only relate to the national team level.

Hoang An (according to NST, Sinar Harian)