KUALA LUMPUR – The Malaysian Football League (MFL) has defended its handling of player registrations, saying the signing of certain players as locals was fully in line with league regulations, despite online backlash and a protest outside its Kelana Jaya headquarters.
The clarification addresses scrutiny surrounding Johor Darul Ta’zim’s (JDT) João Figueiredo, Jon Irazabal and Héctor Hevel, alongside Kuching City FC’s Gabriel Palmero, who were registered as local players rather than naturalised players.
In a statement, MFL highlighted that “the verification and registration of naturalised players in the Malaysian League are governed by the Malaysia League Manual 2025–2026, specifically under Clause 4.5.9.”
It added that the four players in question were registered as locals, with all documentation, including valid Malaysian identity cards issued by the National Registration Department (JPN), submitted in accordance with league requirements.
The league also cited Article 3 of the competition regulations, which outlines the registration and transfer system for players and officials, mandating submission of “either a coloured copy of a national identity card or a passport via the FAM MYPAS (FIFA Connect) system.”
“This requirement was further reinforced through a circular issued to all Malaysia League clubs on June 12, 2025, which outlined the mandatory documents to be uploaded in PDF format for approval, including identification documents for both local and foreign players,” the statement read.
MFL confirmed that Figueiredo, Irazabal, Hevel and Palmero were officially registered as local players for the 2025–2026 season. The three JDT players were signed during the first transfer window from June 9 to August 31, 2025, while Palmero joined Kuching City during the second window from January 5 to February 1, 2026, following provisional clearance from suspension by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
The league added that the decision to register the players as locals had been endorsed by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC). AFC secretary-general Datuk Seri Windsor John reportedly confirmed that the registrations complied with Malaysia League competition regulations.
Acknowledging the protest outside its headquarters yesterday, MFL said it “respects the right of individuals to express their views.” However, it warned that “actions which could disrupt public order, damage the reputation of the domestic football industry, or create negative perceptions of the national football ecosystem were inappropriate.”
“As the governing body of the country’s professional league, MFL remains committed to ensuring that all decisions are made in accordance with competition regulations, while safeguarding the interests of all stakeholders, including clubs, players, supporters and industry partners,” the statement said.
The league urged concerned parties to address grievances through proper channels to maintain harmony and protect the reputation of Malaysian football.