"The debate about the origin of Malaysian players has not ended. This is an unprecedented situation in the history of Malaysian football," the New Straits Times (NST) commented in a recent article.
Since the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) implemented a large-scale player naturalization strategy with the support of senior players, the national team of this country has clearly strengthened in terms of strength and qualifications.
However, besides the victories, the wave of controversy also arose fiercely among experts and fans.
Some audiences felt unfamiliar with the new names called up to the national team. The newspaper described: "Some fans cannot pronounce the players' names, while others cannot remember who they are and where they come from."
The fact that faces that have never competed in domestic tournaments suddenly wear the national team jersey has made many people question the transparency in the naturalization process. Previously, FAM affirmed that all procedures were in compliance with FIFA regulations and were thoroughly inspected, but public skepticism has not cooled down.
In the context of internal disagreements within the Football Federation of Malaysia, especially after harsh statements by head coach Cklamovski and the dissatisfaction of President Joehari Ayub, the controversy over naturalized players has become more intense.
Malaysian public opinion is waiting for a clear answer, not only legally but also in terms of long-term strategic orientation for the national team.
