TMJ says ‘they want to eliminate my football influence’

2026-03-07 - 15:33

Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim, in a post on X, expressed doubt about the motives of the meeting with football supporters. (Bernama pic) PETALING JAYA: Johor Darul Ta’zim football club owner Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim is willing to meet football supporters “any time, anywhere” to provide a detailed explanation on national team’s current crisis over the suspension of seven foreign-born “heritage” players. His response on the X platform came after an X user demanded an explanation regarding the decision made by an international sports court to uphold the 12-month suspensions of seven players and fines levied on the Football Association of Malaysia. Tunku Ismail, who is known as TMJ as Tengku Mahkota of Johor, said he left it to the supporters to set the time and location of the meeting. However, he expressed doubt about the motives of the meeting. “Most of it is not about what is right and true. They are more interested in eliminating my influence in the local football industry, that’s all,” he said. Last week, the Court of Arbitration for Sport upheld a 12-month suspension for seven players who were included in the Harimau Malaya squad as naturalised players. The court held that documents providing for their naturalisation had been proven to be forged. Football supporters have demanded a clear and transparent explanation regarding the issue. The seven players, Hector Hevel, Imanol Machuca, Facundo Garces, Rodrigo Holgado, Joao Figueiredo, Jon Irazabal and Gabriel Palmero, were suspended from official matches but not precluded from football-related activities.