Dutch wingback Mats Deijl's eligibility for the Malaysian national football team sparked considerable excitement among local football authorities and fans, especially after the FAM president hinted at Go Ahead Eagles captain’s potential as the latest naturalised player. Despite FIFA’s strict and well-defined regulations, FAM pressed forward with their pursuit of Deijl, raising concerns about the association’s recruitment strategy and its impact on future player naturalisation efforts. In the end, their attempt fell short, leaving FAM facing criticism. We dissected the issue with T.Avinesh.