The Malaysian Football League (MFL) today announced that Sri Pahang FC’s appeal to register two naturalized players as local players was approved and the amendment to Article 3.4.9(II) of the Competition Rules, Malaysian League Manual was enforced immediately to avoid conflict between the Malaysian Constitution and the Rules MFL competition.
The decision was made through the approval of the MFL Board of Directors who approved Sri Pahang FC’s appeal to register naturalized players Lee Tuck and Sergio Aguero as local players in the 2022 Malaysia League.
The registration of these two players will be effective at the 2022 Malaysia Cup competition.
For the record, Sri Pahang FC has registered Lee Tuck and Aguero as local players in the second registration period (28 May 2022 to 24 June 2022) but the registration has not been approved before.
On 17 August 2021, the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) has decided to stop the naturalization program. However, it does not mean that Malaysian League teams cannot apply to the Malaysian government to naturalize their respective players.
Therefore, after reviewing Sri Pahang FC’s appeal on this matter, the MFL is of the opinion that the implementation of the rules on players who acquire citizenship under Article 3.4.9(ii) of the Competition Rules, Malaysia League Manual, is in conflict with the Malaysian Constitution.
Therefore, the rules for players who have acquired citizenship will be amended and take effect immediately where the implementation of the additional five-year rule for naturalized players is no longer appropriate.
However, the approval of any naturalized player will be based on the Eligibility Rules contained in the FIFA Statute, which is to stay for 5 consecutive years in the country before being registered as a local player.
Credit Photo : Sri Pahang FC
