Indonesian football pundit Justinus “Coach Justin” Lhaksana has stirred controversy after alleging that Malaysia could face a FIFA suspension until 2027 due to the questionable naturalization of foreign-born players—an accusation the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has firmly denied.
In a recent episode of his podcast Bukan Bincang Sepak Bola Biasa, Justin claimed the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) had skirted FIFA’s eligibility rules by fielding five South American players—Rodrigo Holgado, Imanol Machuca, Jon Irazabal, Joao Figueiredo, and Facundo Garces—who allegedly possess “fabricated lineage” to qualify as Malaysian nationals.
“Malaysia are suspended until 2027. They’re still allowed to play in the Under-23 ASEAN Championship because it’s not recognized by FIFA,” he said on the HY Sport YouTube channel, suggesting that the tournament’s non-FIFA status explains Malaysia’s continued participation.
Justin further alleged that the players, all previously active in Brazil or Argentina, were fast-tracked into the national setup through unverifiable ancestral claims. “The federation says these players have Malaysian roots. If that’s true, the documents should be easy to produce,” he said. “If not, then it looks like they’re gaming the system.”
He contrasted the situation with Indonesia’s own naturalization process, citing players like Shayne Pattynama, Joey Pelupessy, and Emil Audero as examples of individuals with clearly documented Indonesian heritage. “We go back two or three generations, with complete birth certificates,” he said.
The accusations surfaced in the wake of Malaysia’s emphatic 4-0 win over Vietnam on June 10 in the 2027 AFC Asian Cup qualifiers—where all five foreign-born players made their debut under new head coach Peter Cklamovski.
However, both the AFC and FAM have denied any wrongdoing. On July 4, AFC General Secretary Datuk Seri Windsor Paul categorically dismissed the allegations, confirming that no complaints had been received regarding the players’ eligibility.
“We have not been informed of any suspension,” Windsor said. “Eligibility issues are under FIFA’s jurisdiction, and if anything had occurred, FAM would be the first to know.”
FAM Secretary-General Datuk Noor Azman Rahman also issued a firm denial, stating that the association has followed all international procedures and has not been contacted by either FIFA or the AFC.
Once seen as a respected and influential voice in Indonesian football discourse, Coach Justin’s reputation has taken a significant hit in recent months—particularly after he supported the dismissal of beloved national team coach Shin Tae-yong. His stance, which went against widespread public support for Shin, sparked backlash among Indonesian fans and led many to question his credibility and motives in football commentary.
At this stage, no official investigation has been announced, and neither FIFA nor the AFC has provided any public statement supporting Coach Justin’s claims. Without clear evidence, the allegations remain speculative—though they have intensified scrutiny over Malaysia’s increasingly assertive naturalization policy in the regional football scene.