Following the arrival of Gabriel Palmero, four Malaysia-naturalised players at JDT can be registered as local players in Liga Malaysia under the country's current nationality regulations.
The situation has sparked debate within Malaysian football, with some fans arguing that the rule could give JDT a significant advantage over other clubs, particularly amid ongoing controversy surrounding the players' eligibility documentation.
JDT's four naturalised Malaysian players:
๐ช๐ธ Jon Irazรกbal
๐ช๐ธ Gabriel Palmero
๐ณ๐ฑ Hector Hevel
๐ง๐ท Joรฃo Figueiredo
All four are now Malaysian citizens. However, citizenship and eligibility to represent the national team are separate matters. If they do not meet FIFA's ancestry-related eligibility requirements, they would need to satisfy the five-year continuous residency requirement in Malaysia before becoming eligible to represent the national team.
Meanwhile, Liga Malaysia currently allows up to seven foreign players on the pitch at the same time.
JDT's naturalised-player strategy is therefore set to remain one of the biggest talking points ahead of the new season.