Cheng Hoe shuts door on eligibility scandal, backs local talent

Harimau Malaya interim coach Tan Cheng Hoe has dismissed questions about past naturalisation controversies, focusing instead on the future of Malaysian football. In a recent friendly match against China, Cheng Hoe fielded a largely domestic-based team, excluding regulars from Johor Darul Ta zim (JDT). When asked about reliance on naturalised footballers for the upcoming World Cup qualifying cycle, Cheng Hoe stated, "I don't comment on the past issues.

I am just looking forward to the new national team." The coach emphasized the importance of homegrown players, saying, "We are looking forward to the players whoever can represent the country. The most important thing, I think, we are also looking forward to the homegrown players that really give us a good impact and future for the Malaysia team."

Malaysia's recruitment of naturalised and heritage players has faced scrutiny since the 2025 FIFA eligibility scandal, which saw seven foreign-born players banned for falsified ancestry documents. The sanctions led to Malaysia forfeiting two Asian Cup qualifiers and triggered a review by the Enforcement Agency Integrity Commission.

Although the bans have expired, the FA of Malaysia president Datuk Ab Ghani Hassan stated last month that the players remain ineligible to represent Malaysia under FIFA regulations. Despite this, FIFA-qualified JDT players Bergson da Silva, Manuel Hidalgo, and Brad Tapp have since featured in Malaysia's successful Asean Cup campaign.

The debate over the national team's reliance on naturalised talent continues, with even Australia-born defender Shane Lowry recently receiving FIFA approval to play for Malaysia.