KUALA LUMPUR – The Harimau Malaya squad may have to come to terms with the permanent absence of seven of their players, even after completing a 12-month suspension imposed by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
Speaking to Scoop, Datuk Seri Windsor Paul John, secretary general of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), indicated that it is highly unlikely the players will be allowed to represent the national team once their suspension ends.
“At present, following the completion of the 12-month ban, it is probable that these seven players will not be eligible to feature for the Harimau Malaya, in accordance with the decision set by CAS,” Windsor said when contacted.
He further stressed that any future action will be referred to the AFC Disciplinary and Ethics Committee, which will determine whether additional sanctions should be applied to the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) or the players concerned.
Reports suggest that the seven so-called ‘false Harimau’ have no alternative route to play for the national team unless they undergo the naturalisation process, which requires them to reside in Malaysia for a minimum of five years.
The seven players were previously sanctioned for falsifying documents to be eligible to represent Malaysia in official competitions, a case that drew widespread attention in local football circles.
Following investigations by the FAM and subsequent appeals to CAS, their 12-month suspension was upheld.
In a related development, the Malaysian Football League (MFL) recently confirmed that clubs and the national team must strictly comply with player eligibility rules, emphasising transparency and adherence to both AFC and FIFA regulations.
The league also reiterated that any violations could result in further disciplinary action, including fines or additional suspensions.
With these developments, it appears that the Harimau Malaya will have to restructure their squad and focus on eligible players, while the controversial case of the seven players serves as a cautionary tale for Malaysian football. – March 7, 2026