Malaysian football faces unprecedented scrutiny

After a resounding victory against Vietnam, Malaysian football is facing controversy over naturalized players and the head coach's statements.

Malaysia defeated Vietnam 4-0 in the second leg of Group F of the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers on 10/6/2025. This historic win, their largest ever against a strong Southeast Asian rival, was significantly aided by players of mixed heritage.

Of the 7 mixed-heritage players recently naturalized this year, 5 started for the "Harimau Malaya", while the others came off the bench. All 4 of Malaysia's goals involved these players, with Brazilian-born forward Joao Figueiredo opening the scoring and Argentinian-born forward Rodrigo Holgado doubling the lead.

Brazilian-born forward Joao Figueiredo (center) celebrates Argentinian-born forward Rodrigo Holgado's (right) goal, making it 2-0, during Malaysia's 4-0 victory over Vietnam in the second leg of Group F of the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers at Bukit Jalil Stadium, Malaysia, on 10/6/2025. Photo: Malaysia NT

Amidst the celebrations, questions arose about the players' eligibility. Indonesian media outlets accused Malaysia of falsifying documents, particularly in the case of Argentinian-born center-back Facundo Garces, who is said to have a Malaysian grandmother. This led to rumors that FIFA (Federation Internationale de Football Association) and AFC (Asian Football Confederation) would penalize Malaysia, potentially even overturning the result against Vietnam.

"The debate surrounding the origins of Malaysia's players is ongoing. This is an unprecedented situation for Malaysian football," noted an article in the New Straits Times (NST). "Some fans can't pronounce the players' names, while others struggle to remember who they are and where they come from."

The Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) was accused of concealing the origins of these players. In response, FAM President Datuk Mohd Joehari Ayub insisted that FIFA had vetted all players and that they had met all requirements.

"We followed FIFA's procedures and guidelines. We are not afraid to disclose anything if necessary," Ayub told the media on 30/6. "If there were any issues, FIFA would not have approved the players. In this case, everything was done transparently and correctly."

FIFA does not prohibit naturalization, provided players can prove 5 years of continuous residence or demonstrate heritage through their parents or grandparents. This criterion mirrors the naturalization laws of many countries, including Malaysia and Vietnam.

Questions from local media about the naturalization controversy overshadowed the main purpose of the first Extraordinary FAM Congress on 30/6. The two main agenda items were the announcement of Hamidin Mohd Amin as honorary president for his contributions to Malaysian football and plans for a future World Cup bid.

Coach Peter Cklamovski during the Malaysian national team's training session at Bukit Jalil Stadium on the evening of 9/6/2025, a day before their match against Vietnam in the second leg of Group F of the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers. Photo: Hai Tu

Another issue facing the FAM is head coach Peter Cklamovski's post-match comments. The Australian coach stated he deals daily with issues such as betrayal, politics, and internal challenges. He also claimed that if they had lost to Vietnam, he and Tunku Ismail, the Crown Prince of Johor and president of Johor Darul Tazim FC, would have been the targets of criticism.

"If we hadn't beaten Vietnam, they would have targeted me and Tunku Ismail, saying I was a bad coach and blaming the players," Cklamovski said. "But now, suddenly, they're all good friends. It's fine because we united as a nation."

Cklamovski's statements fueled speculation about behind-the-scenes issues, including a possible backlash against the policy of recruiting and naturalizing mixed-heritage players. FAM President Joehari Ayub urged everyone to remain calm.

"We fully and consistently support the national team," Ayub said. "What's being said is speculation, and to be fair, it's best to ask Cklamovski directly for his explanation."

The Malaysian national team will regroup in late August to prepare for the 2025 CAFA (Central Asian Football Association) Nations Cup. Malaysia will have the opportunity to face two Asian teams heading to the 2026 World Cup: Iran (ranked 18th by FIFA) and Uzbekistan (57th). The other 4 teams are Kyrgyzstan (103rd), Tajikistan (104th), Turkmenistan (142nd), and Afghanistan (160th). Seeding will be based on FIFA rankings. Currently, Oman is ranked 77th, while Malaysia is 131st but is automatically placed in the fourth pot for invited teams.

Trung Thu

By VnExpress: https://vnexpress.net/bong-da-malaysia-bi-xem-o-tinh-the-bat-thuong-chua-tung-co-4909236.html