Game interrupted: Joao Figueiredo (left) and Facundo Garces are among the seven players who are suspended.
PETALING JAYA: As Malaysian football reels from FIFA’s suspension of seven mixed-heritage players, questions have emerged about the role of agents in the citizenship verification process.
Is the middle person at fault in giving unverified information? How much do they get paid for securing a deal?
According to a football agent, who wishes to stay anonymous, their involvement is often misunderstood.
The agent said their roles were limited to identifying and connecting eligible players with the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM), rather than handling any documentation or naturalisation applications themselves.
“When one of my former players went through the naturalisation process, it was handled entirely by the club, not by me. I wasn’t involved at all,” said the agent.
The agent was responding to FAM’s statement earlier this week, which suggested that a staff member had uploaded documents provided by an agent - a revelation that raised eyebrows following FIFA’s decision to suspend several players over alleged irregularities in citizenship documentation.
The players were banned for 12 months for doctored documents while the FAM were penalised RM1.8 mil. FAM are appealing the decision.
“From my understanding, the players identified as part of the seven could have been first approached through an agent,” he explained.
“The agents might have helped connect those players to the federation, maybe to submit certain documents or to start discussions.
“But the actual submission for naturalisation would definitely have been done in Malaysia, by the local authorities or the federation, not by any agent.”
The agent also emphasised that FIFA’s rules on player eligibility were strict and well-defined, with little room for manipulation.
“FIFA have zero tolerance for forgery or falsified documents. Their guidelines are very clear. If there’s any dispute, it will be difficult unless there’s strong supporting documentation.”
According to the agent, FIFA recognise two main categories for player eligibility - those naturalised through residency and those eligible through lineage - via a parent or grandparent.
“There’s no official FIFA category called a ‘heritage player,” he said.
“If a player is born in Malaysia, they can apply for citizenship, but the decision to grant it lies entirely with the government.
“FIFA only step in to ensure that the player also meets the national eligibility criteria before being allowed to represent that country.”
He further clarified that agents generally play a scouting and facilitation role rather than a bureaucratic one.
“Usually, an agent identifies potential heritage players and brings them to FAM’s attention,” he said.
“The agent might say, ‘This player’s mother is Malaysian,’ or ‘This player’s grandfather is Malaysian.’ But not every player with heritage qualifies; they must meet both the sporting standard and eligibility requirements.”
While some heritage players have proven valuable additions to the national team, the agent stressed that the formal paperwork and vetting process always remained in the hands of clubs, FAM and Malaysian authorities.
“The agent identifies the player, checks their eligibility, and initiates the conversation.’’
The recent FIFA suspension has sparked nationwide debate over Malaysia’s reliance on naturalised and heritage players, as well as the systems in place to ensure proper verification.
It is unsure though the amount earned by an agent here but in Europe, their fees could hit millions.
In a BBC sport report recently, from Feb 2, 2024 to Feb 3, 2025, Chelsea spent a little over £60mil on agents fees, while Manchester City spent about £52mil.
The 20 Premier League teams paid a combined £409.1mil on fees - down from £409.5m in the previous period.
According to the report, the responsibility to pay an agent is their client’s, but it is commonly negotiated during a transfer that the buying club pays the agent’s commission on the player’s behalf, especially at the top level.
