OFFICIAL: 4 Malaysian players illegally naturalized become local players

Johor Darul Ta'zim has listed 4 of the 7 players from the naturalization dispute as local players for the league competition.

Johor Darul Ta'zim (JDT) has registered Jon Irazabal, Gabriel Palmero, Hector Hevel, and Joao Figueiredo as local players for the 2026/27 Malaysian National League, a move that has sparked considerable debate within the country's football community. All four players have completed the necessary procedures and are now recognized as Malaysian citizens. As a result, they can play in the domestic league as native players without occupying one of JDT's foreign player slots.

This regulation provides a significant advantage for Malaysia's strongest club. In the new season, clubs are allowed a maximum of seven foreign players on the field simultaneously. With Irazabal, Palmero, Hevel, and Figueiredo all counted as locals, JDT can field additional foreign players without having to allocate slots for these four. This enables the Malaysian champions to have superior squad depth in the domestic competition.

The decision immediately sparked mixed reactions. Some Malaysian fans believe that granting local player status to four players previously involved in naturalization controversies could tilt the competitive balance too heavily in favor of JDT. The situation also raises questions about the fairness of the local player regulations, especially when a club can acquire multiple players through naturalization programs.

Earlier, in September 2025, FIFA discovered issues related to the naturalization documents of seven Malaysian players. The incident then led to a lengthy appeals process lasting several months. By early March 2026, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) issued a ruling unfavorable to the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM), leaving the international playing future of the involved players as a topic of continued interest.

However, Malaysian citizenship and the right to play for the national team are two completely different matters. According to FIFA regulations, Irazabal, Palmero, Hevel, and Figueiredo must still meet all the conditions for international eligibility. If they cannot prove appropriate ancestral ties, they may need to fulfill a continuous five-year residence requirement in Malaysia before becoming eligible to represent the national team.

Furthermore, the 12-month suspension these players received last year is still in effect, so they cannot immediately return to the Malaysian national team. Therefore, being recognized as local players currently holds greater significance at the club level. JDT is the direct beneficiary, gaining four quality players who do not occupy foreign slots, while their potential return to the national team remains contingent on fully meeting FIFA's conditions.