KUALA LUMPUR: National caretaker coach Pau Marti Vicente raised eyebrows today by releasing three Johor Darul Ta'zim (JDT) players ahead of Monday's friendly against India in Hyderabad.
Defenders Feroz Baharudin and Matthew Davies, along with forward Arif Aiman Hanapi, were released to their club, leaving the Harimau Malaya squad with just 23 players.
The FA of Malaysia (FAM) confirmed the decision was made by Vicente, who opted to trim the squad as part of preparations for the AFF Cup next month.
"It is standard practice for the national team to have a squad of 23 players for a match," said FAM secretary-general Datuk Noor Azman Rahman.
However, an earlier FAM statement claimed the move was at JDT's request, citing scheduling conflicts. "Harimau Malaya will only return to Malaysia on Wednesday, leaving little time for the trio to rejoin their club ahead of domestic fixtures," said the statement.
Despite the controversy, JDT goalkeeper Syihan Hazmi Mohamed remains with the squad.
Azman dismissed speculation of any dispute with concerned parties, assuring that the decision would not set a precedent for other M-League clubs seeking similar arrangements.
The issue has re-ignited debate over the overlapping football calendars.
The delayed release of Malaysia Football League (MFL) fixtures has forced players to juggle national and club commitments, leading to scheduling headaches.
"If you have questions about the fixtures, I suggest you ask MFL CEO Giorgio Pompili Rossi," Azman added.
The release of Arif Aiman, Davies and Feroz has also sparked speculation they may not feature in the AFF Cup.
Azman declined to comment on the matter.