Johor Regent Tunku Mahkota Ismail says seven Harimau Malaya players hold valid papers, urges Malaysia to keep fighting FIFA’s suspension decision.
JOHOR Regent Tunku Mahkota Ismail said Malaysia must be prepared to accept any decision made by Fifa regarding the eligibility of seven national football players currently under investigation, while stressing that the country should continue to fight for its rights.
Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) football club owner Tunku Ismail said that while he firmly believes all seven Harimau Malaya players of foreign origin hold legitimate documents proving their ties to Malaysia, he doubts that Fifa will reverse its decision.
“Yes, that is my opinion. FAM is still fighting for the rights of the seven players to represent the country because all the documents were properly issued by the government.
“I believe there was a technical issue, perhaps an administrative error when the papers were submitted. But when it comes to legitimacy and integrity, they are Malaysians.
“That is our sovereignty and diversity, and we should not question it,“ said Tunku Ismail in a press conference held in Subang Jaya, Selangor yesterday.
Tunku Ismail, better known as TMJ, faced the media alone during a more than hour-long press conference organised by the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM).
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He said he chose to personally address all questions from journalists to clarify matters, as many had linked him to the controversy surrounding Fifa’s sanctions against Malaysia national team and its players.
The seven players involved are Gabriel Felipe Arrocha, Facundo Garcés, and Jon Irazabal from Spain; Hector Hevel from the Netherlands; Rodrigo Holgado and Imanol Machuca from Argentina; and Joao Figueiredo from Brazil.
In their bid to register the players as naturalised Malaysians, FAM stated that the players’ grandparents were born in various parts of Malaysia, including Melaka, Penang, Johor, and Sarawak.
TMJ said the players had been approved to play by both the government and Fifa before the issue arose, and any administrative mistake should not overshadow their right to represent Malaysia.
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“I don’t think the players forged any documents. They didn’t know anything. Rules are rules, and we must respect them, but if we believe we are right and have valid documents, we must continue to fight through the proper legal channels, even up to the Court of Arbitration for Sport
(CAS) if necessary,” he said.
The Johor Regent also acknowledged that Fifa’s decision may remain unchanged, but hopes any punishment will be lighter.
“Maybe there will be fines, point deductions, or player suspensions we don’t know yet. But regardless of the outcome, our focus should be on finding a solution, not blaming any party,” he added.
When asked about the impact of the situation on national football, TMJ rejected suggestions that Malaysia’s football development was facing a “revolutionary failure,” saying that progress had already been made in tactical and structural aspects.
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“In terms of football, there is improvement. Players now understand the system and play with structure.
“Training is more organised, and team spirit is stronger. You cannot call it a failure just because of this issue with the seven players,” he said.
He stressed that the focus should remain on long-term development and integrity in Malaysian football.
He added that despite the current challenges, Malaysia must not halt its football development efforts.
“This is not a failure, it’s a hiccup. Every hiccup should not make us stop. We must continue as long as we are right. We have to fight for our players.
“They gave everything for the national team and helped earn points for Malaysia. If they are our soldiers, we should not leave them behind,” he declared.
Regarding FAM general secretary Datuk Noor Azman Rahman position, TMJ said any disciplinary action would be up to FAM but hoped fairness would prevail.
“I believe there was a technical issue during submission. I hope he won’t be suspended for long because we should channel our energy into solving the issue, not punishing one person.
“If he is to be suspended, then everyone involved should be, too. It’s not fair for one person to take all the blame.”
Tunku Ismail also said that he will continue to support all Malaysian players, regardless of their origins, saying that what matters most is their genuine connection and dedication to the country.
He added that Malaysia should continue identifying and recruiting players from abroad who have Malaysian heritage or ties, as they can contribute positively to the national team’s growth and success.
“I don’t care where they come from be it Africa, Antarctica, anywhere.
What matters is that they have Malaysian blood and want to represent their country.
“They played with sincerity, and as a Malaysian football supporter, I will stand by them no matter what.”
On 26 Sept, Fifa imposed a 12-month suspension on seven naturalised players from Malaysia’s national football team and fined the FAM in the amount of approximately RM1.8 million over alleged forged documents used during an Asian Cup Qualifier.
FAM has since attributed the issue to a technical error in document submission and filed a formal appeal on 14 Oct with Fifa is expected to deliver its decision on 30 Oct.
