Malaysia Considers Stateless Children for National Football Team Amid Fifa Row
Malaysia is exploring a novel approach to bolster its national football team. The Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) has proposed considering stateless children residing in the country, who possess a passion for football and seek Malaysian citizenship. This comes amidst a Fifa suspension and fine for seven foreign players, due to citizenship disputes in college football.
The players, hailing from Brazil, Argentina, the Netherlands, and Spain, have the potential to elevate Malaysia's global football standing. However, Fifa's recent suspension and fine of 2,000 Swiss francs (approximately RM10,560) each, on grounds of non-Malaysian citizenship, has sparked debate. FAM has appealed the decision, awaiting the final ruling.
Detractors argue that Malaysia should focus on nurturing local-born talent in schools. However, challenges such as poor discipline and short attention spans among students have been highlighted. Meanwhile, Malaysian authorities have fast-tracked the citizenship of seven foreign footballers, due to their grandparents' past residency in the country. The players' proficiency in the national language, Bahasa Malaysia, has been noted as a prerequisite for citizenship, aiding their understanding of legal documents and the national anthem.
The Malaysian authorities hold the decision-making power regarding the inclusion of stateless children in the national football team. While FAM's proposal aims to enhance Malaysia's global football profile, the final ruling on the citizenship status of the suspended players is eagerly awaited. The balance between nurturing local talent and leveraging foreign expertise continues to be a topic of discussion in football games today.
