PETALING JAYA: The Malaysian Football League (MFL) have confirmed that the four Harimau Malaya players under FIFA sanctions will not be allowed to compete in the league, although they have not breached registration rules.
In a statement yesterday, MFL said three Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) players, namely Joao Figueiredo, Jon Irazabal, Hector Hevel, and Kuching City’s Gabriel Palmero, had been registered according to the MFL competition regulations for the current season.
The registration for local and foreign players under the rules require a coloured copy of the identity card or a coloured copy of the passport.
“It is clear that these four players have completed the registration process in accordance with the Malaysia League competition regulations by using valid identity cards issued by the National Registration Department (JPN) to be registered as local players for the 2025-2026 Malaysia League season,” the statement said.
“Therefore, MFL confirmed that there has been no breach of regulations in the registration of Figueiredo, Irazabal, Hevel, and Palmero by their respective clubs this season.
“However, the four players are still required to serve a 12-month suspension from official matches as recently decided by FIFA and the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).”
The four players, as well as three others, including Facundo Garces, Rodrigo Holgado, and Imanol Machuca were sanctioned for falsifying eligibility documents, but CAS partially upheld the players’ appeal.
CAS allowed the players to resume training and participate in other football-related activities but will not be allowed to be fielded for official matches.
