Malaysian Football League (MFL) has issued an official statement following a demonstration staged by a group of individuals outside its headquarters, reaffirming its commitment to league regulations and clarifying ongoing concerns surrounding player registration in Malaysian football.
In its response, Malaysian Football League acknowledged the right of individuals to voice opinions but stressed that actions which may disrupt public order or harm the reputation of the domestic football ecosystem are inappropriate.
“As the governing body of the professional league, MFL remains committed to ensuring that all decisions are made in accordance with competition regulations, while safeguarding the interests of clubs, players, supporters, and industry stakeholders,” the statement read.
MFL also called on all parties to channel dissatisfaction through appropriate mechanisms to preserve harmony and the image of Malaysian football.
Addressing the core issue raised by protesters, Malaysian Football League clarified that the registration of naturalised players and heritage players are two distinct processes.
The league emphasised that all player registrations are conducted in strict accordance with the Malaysia League Manual 2025/26, particularly under regulations governing documentation and eligibility.
MFL confirmed that four players — Joao Figueiredo, Jon Irazabal, Hector Hevel (all from Johor Darul Ta’zim) and Gabriel Palmero of Kuching City — were legitimately registered as local players, not naturalised players.
According to MFL, all four fulfilled the documentation requirements by submitting valid Malaysian identification cards issued by the National Registration Department (JPN), as mandated under league rules and the FIFA Connect system (MYPAS).
Joao Figueiredo, Jon Irazabal and Hector Hevel were registered during the first transfer window (9 June – 31 August 2025) by Johor Darul Ta’zim
Gabriel Palmero was registered by Kuching City during the second window (5 January – 1 February 2026) after receiving a temporary suspension relief from the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS)
Importantly, MFL highlighted that its decision to classify the players as locals has been validated by the Asian Football Confederation(AFC).
A statement issued by AFC General Secretary Windsor Paul John on 13 March confirmed that no regulatory breach had occurred, as the registrations were fully compliant with Malaysia League competition rules.
Credit Photo : Jayden Seah/SNE-Photo
