FIFA officially allows 7 Malaysian naturalized stars to play against the Vietnamese national team.

The International Football Federation (FIFA) has officially sent a letter to the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM), agreeing to temporarily lift the ban on seven naturalized players involved in a scandal. This landmark decision comes immediately after the ruling from the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), allowing the group of players to return to the pitch immediately.

List of 7 stars who have been "freed"

The group of players who received approval from FIFA includes: Gabriel Palmero, Jon Irazabal, Facundo Garces, Imanol Machuca, Rodrigo Holgado, Hector Hevel, and Joao Figueireido. These are all key players in Malaysia's recent strategy to elevate the national football team.

Previously, in September, this group of players received a 12-month suspension due to issues related to fraudulent naturalization documents. However, with the latest document from FIFA, this penalty has been immediately suspended, restoring all their right to play at both club and national team levels.

Malaysia has an advantage in the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers.

FIFA's lifting of the temporary ban has significantly impacted the standings in the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers. Notably, if the CAS (Court of Arbitration for Sport) does not issue a final ruling before March 31st, the Malaysian team will be fully eligible to field their strongest squad in the crucial rematch against the Vietnamese team.

The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) is still awaiting the final ruling from the CAS before issuing official sanctions. However, due to the ongoing draw for the final tournament, the AFC has set a deadline for disciplinary action after the qualifying rounds conclude (after March 31st). This move inadvertently allows Malaysia to preserve their squad during the crucial final stages of the season.