PETALING JAYA: Laos coach Ha Hyeok-jun has described FIFA’s recent sanctions against Malaysia as the result of a "double-edged sword" in using naturalised players.
He urged his players to stay focused ahead of their upcoming AFC Asian Cup 2027 third-round clash despite the controversy surrounding their opponents.
Speaking at the pre-match press conference at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil on Monday (Oct 13), the South Korean said that while the use of naturalised or mixed-heritage players can strengthen a national team in the short term, it also comes with risks and complications.
"Regarding this sanction, it seems to be related to some uncertainty about nationality, though we don’t know all the exact details," Hyeok-jun said.
"I think it’s a double-edged sword. Countries like South Korea and Japan have never used this approach, even in the past, and there are reasons for that.
"I understand that it can help improve football in the short term, but overall, there are also drawbacks – situations like this can arise."
Hyeok-jun, who took charge of the Laos national team earlier this year, stressed that his side would not be distracted by the ongoing controversy involving the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM).
"As for the outside noise, we’re not paying attention to it. We don’t want it to affect us or our players.
"We see the Malaysian team as the same Malaysian team, and we’re preparing accordingly."
FIFA’s Disciplinary Committee recently ruled that FAM had submitted forged documents to register seven mixed-heritage players for international duty.
The global governing body’s investigation revealed discrepancies between the original birth certificates and those submitted to justify the players’ eligibility to represent Malaysia.
The players involved are Hector Hevel, Jon Irazabal, Gabriel Palmero, Facundo Garcés, Rodrigo Holgado, Imanol Machuca, and João Figueiredo.
FIFA found both FAM and the players guilty of breaching Article 22 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code, which deals with falsifying and using forged documents in official proceedings.
As a result, FAM were fined 350,000 Swiss francs (approximately RM1.8mil), while each player received a 2,000 Swiss franc (RM11,000) fine and a 12-month suspension from all football-related activities.
