Malaysia faces the risk of being banned from the AFC Nations League.
The scandal involving the illegal naturalization of seven players could lead to the Malaysian national team being banned from international competition, putting them at risk of missing the inaugural AFC Nations League.
The uncertain landscape of Malaysian football.
While the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) is planning to launch the Nations League to raise the level of competition across the continent, the Malaysian national team faces an uncertain future. According to the New Straits Times, the national team risks being banned from international competition due to allegations related to the illegal naturalization of players.
The root cause stems from the incident where seven naturalized players of the national team were found ineligible to play. If FIFA decides to expand the sanctions, Malaysia could be sidelined from the upcoming major Asian football tournament.
AFC Nations League: A missed opportunity?
According to the proposal, the AFC Nations League would be modeled after the UEFA Nations League, using a ranking system to create highly competitive matches, replacing the less purposeful friendly games. AFC Secretary General Datuk Seri Windsor Paul said the tournament would support the 47 member federations by providing a structured, high-quality schedule and reducing the financial and logistical burden.
Since its launch in 2018, the UEFA Nations League has received much positive feedback for creating high-level and exciting matchups, particularly benefiting smaller nations with fewer opportunities for competition.
Expert perspective: Punishment can be a "blessing"
Malaysian football expert Zulakbal believes that participating in a highly competitive league will encourage players to maintain their form and improve the quality of the squad. He also pointed out the commercial benefits, as official matches always attract more fans and sponsors.
However, Malaysia risks missing out on all these benefits. The use of ineligible players in the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers could lead to a heavy penalty.
Nevertheless, Zulakbal believes that even with a ban, Malaysian football must continue to develop. He sees the penalty as an opportunity to restructure the entire football system.
"If Malaysia misses out on the Nations League due to a ban, it would be a huge shock. But when you've hit rock bottom, the only way is to climb back up. If we're banned for one or two years, we have to use that time to rebuild from the ground up, from youth football to the national team level," he analyzed. "A suspension can become a blessing in disguise if we know how to take advantage of the opportunity to repair and improve our football."
