FAM TOLD TO AVOID TROUBLE

THE Asian Football Confederation have warned FAM to carefully handle the naturalisation of foreign players to avoid cases like Timor Leste who have been banned from the 2023 Asia Cup.

ASIAN Football Confederation (AFC) general secretary Datuk Windsor Paul John has warned FA of Malaysia (FAM) to treat the naturalisation process with caution.

This is because the consequences of not carefully following Fifa’s guidelines could be as disastrous as experienced by Timor Leste in January last year.

FAM are working on a plan to have naturalised players in the national team to boost Malaysia’s world ranking.

“As far as AFC are concerned, we have no problems if Malaysia or any other member country want to include naturalised players in their national squad as long as they follow the guidelines laid out by Fifa.

“FAM need to ascertain the players’ blood relationship, or his residency status in Malaysia before including him.

“If not, disciplinary action can be taken by the governing body,” Windsor Paul told NSTP Sport.

In earlier reports, FAM are said to be ready to go for naturalisation of players, and the move has received support from many quarters including the government. But it comes with a caution not to sideline local players in the process.

However, not all countries which import players, are as lucky as France to go all the way and win the World Cup.

AFC had penalised the Timor Leste FA for faking the document of 12 Brazil players to represent their nation.

According to Fifa, a naturalised player is only eligible to play for another country if he has a blood relationship with it, or has stayed at least five years in the said country after turning 18.

For their folly, Timor Leste are not allowed to play in the 2023 Asia Cup and they were fined US$20,000 (RM81,650). The results of Timor Leste’s 29 international matches were also declared null and void by Fifa.

Timor Leste FA general secretary Amandio de Araujo Sarmento was banned from football activities for three years as well as fined US$9,000 (RM36,742).