AFC firmly states that the Malaysian team will not be penalized due to naturalized players.

The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) asserts that Johor Darul Ta'zim (JDT) remains unaffected by FIFA's disciplinary orders, since eligibility matters are solely relevant to national teams.

The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) recently clarified the controversies surrounding the eligibility of certain naturalized Malaysian players. According to the continental football governing body, club Johor Darul Ta'zim (JDT) is not impacted by the disciplinary actions FIFA imposed on some players related to the Malaysian national team.

AFC stated that it independently reviewed the case after receiving documents from FIFA. “We have received the complete case file from FIFA. The disciplinary committee has initiated proceedings with FAM,” AFC General Secretary, Datuk Seri Windsor John, said. Accordingly, the issues being addressed primarily concern player eligibility at the national team level.

In his statement, Windsor John emphasized that AFC's regulatory scope in this matter does not involve clubs. “Regarding eligibility issues, we can certainly intervene, but only for national team matches. Clubs participating in AFC competitions are entirely unaffected because eligibility regulations apply solely to national teams,” he said.

Therefore, JDT's participation in club-level competitions across Asia and the region continues without any hindrance. “Since there is no violation of any regulations… eligibility criteria are only for national teams, and for AFC clubs, there are no nationality requirements for playing,” he stated. This means the Malaysian club remains eligible to compete in the AFC Champions League Elite as well as regional tournaments.

Previously, FIFA imposed a 12-month suspension on seven players involved in falsifying documents for eligibility to play for the Malaysian national team. Among them are three players currently under JDT's roster: Joao Figueiredo, Hector Hevel, and Jon Irazabal. However, FIFA's penalties apply only at the national team level and do not affect club competitions.

Nevertheless, JDT still faces potential repercussions in another regional tournament. According to Malaysian media, the club may be considered to have violated regulations in the 2025/2026 Southeast Asian Cup C1, allegedly using more foreign players than permitted in some group stage matches. If the tournament organizers confirm violations, the Malaysian club could be awarded losses in relevant matches and face point deductions, which might affect its chances of advancing in the competition.