Báo Tuổi Trẻ•08/03/2026
Joao Figueiredo is one of four players recently banned from the M-League again following a CAS ruling - Photo: FAM
On March 7th, the M-League (MFL) confirmed the reinstatement of the 12-month ban on Joao Figueiredo, Jon Irazabal, Hector Hevel (both from Johor Darul Ta'zim FC), and Gabriel Palmero (Kuching City FC).
Initially, these four names were among the seven Malaysian naturalized players who were banned by FIFA for falsifying their original documents.
Unwilling to accept the punishment, they appealed to the CAS and were granted a temporary suspension of the sentence. They then returned to playing, resuming their careers for JDT and Kuching City in M-League matches.
However, the joy was short-lived. In its recent final ruling, CAS rejected the appeal to overturn the ban, officially upholding the 12-month suspension from official matches.
The ban took effect immediately, forcing the four players to once again stay away from the M-League pitch and only allowing them to remain at their clubs for fitness training.
The most serious problem in this vicious cycle is now falling on the shoulders of the M-League organizers. The fact that these four players had freely played for their respective clubs during their "suspended sentences" is putting the league in a difficult position.
Currently, the entire M-League system is holding its breath, awaiting a decision from the Asian Football Confederation (AFC).
If the AFC determines that the use of players during a legal dispute is a violation, the results of all matches involving the JDT and Kuching City FC stars could be annulled. This puts the M-League standings at risk of serious disruption.
THANH DINH
Source: https://tuoitre.vn/vong-luan-quan-cua-cac-cau-thu-nhap-tich-gian-doi-malaysia-20260308090523556.htm
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