Malaysia get green light from FIFA to use 5 new heritage players
KUALA LUMPUR: After sceptical rival fans across Southeast Asian urged FIFA to investigate Malaysia for its recruitment of "heritage players", the FA of Malaysia (FAM) announced today that the world body has cleared five foreign-born players to wear Malaysia shirts.
The five naturalised heritage players are Facundo Garces, Imanol Machuca, Jon Irazabal, Joao Figueiredo and Rodrigo Holgado.
This means the five footballers will be able to take the field against Vietnam in a crucial Asian Cup Group F qualifier at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil tonight (9pm kickoff).
FAM, in a social media post today, stated that Garces, Machuca, Irazabal, Figueiredo and Holgado have received Fifa approval,
Malaysia aim to break their 11-year winless run against Vietnam after losing seven times and drawn once in their last eight meetings. Malaysia's last win over Vietnam was at the 2014 AFF Cup.
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