KUALA LUMPUR, May 16, 2026 – Malaysia’s Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail has reiterated that the seven foreign-born football players granted Malaysian citizenship fully complied with the Federal Constitution, distinguishing the matter from FIFA’s eligibility rules that led to sanctions against the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM).
In a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter) today, Saifuddin welcomed Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s recent remarks on the issue and emphasised that the players’ citizenship was awarded under Article 19 of the Federal Constitution through naturalisation.
“The citizenship status given to the seven FAM players follows the provisions of Article 19 regarding Malaysian citizenship under the Federal Constitution,” he said.
He clarified that FIFA’s concerns relate solely to the world governing body’s separate eligibility criteria for representing a national team, not the players’ legal status as Malaysian citizens. “The issue raised by FIFA pertains to the conditions for representing a country according to their statutes,” Saifuddin added.
The minister urged FAM to first resolve the dispute with FIFA, echoing the Prime Minister’s call for internal discussions before any further steps.
The controversy erupted after FIFA’s disciplinary committee sanctioned FAM and the seven players for allegedly using forged documents. The players in question — including individuals born in Argentina, Spain, Brazil, and the Netherlands — were said to have qualified for Malaysia via “heritage” claims that their grandparents were born in Malaysia.
FIFA’s investigation, however, found that the grandparents were actually born abroad, leading to fines on FAM and suspensions for the players. FAM has described the discrepancies as “technical errors” or “administrative issues” while insisting the players remain legitimate Malaysian citizens.
Since 2018, Malaysia has naturalised around 23 foreign players to strengthen the national team, Harimau Malaya. Home Minister Saifuddin previously told Parliament that the seven players met all constitutional criteria, including residency periods, good conduct, and Malay language proficiency, with ministerial discretion applied where needed.
The issue has sparked heated debate online, with critics questioning the vetting process, the use of ministerial discretion, and potential implications for national sovereignty. Some have called for a review of the citizenship grants, while others accuse authorities of overlooking document irregularities.
FAM and the government maintain that citizenship decisions rest with Malaysian authorities under domestic law, separate from FIFA’s football-specific regulations.
The ministry has not indicated any plans to revoke the players’ citizenship. The matter is expected to be discussed further at FAM level in the coming days.
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