Gallifuoco naturalisation application under review by FAM

KUALA LUMPUR: The Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) has confirmed receipt of the naturalisation application documents for KL City defender Giancarlo Gallifuoco, which are currently being processed by the governing body's secretariat.

FAM president Datuk Ab Ghani Hassan said he had received confirmation from the FAM general secretary regarding the receipt of the documents.

However, Gallifuoco must still undergo several processes before a decision can be made on his application.

"The documents are still at the secretariat stage. I have checked with the general Secretary. Yes, it is true that FAM has received the documents from Gallifuoco.

"However, there are still certain processes that Gallifuoco must go through," he said when met at the Sultans' Gold Cup final at the University of Malaya Arena on Saturday.

Australian Gallifuoco revealed the update via X, noting that his lawyer is handling the naturalisation process and has submitted the relevant documents to FAM for further legal review by the governing body.

If the process for the former Tottenham Hotspur youth player proceeds smoothly and meets all eligibility criteria, Gallifuoco could potentially become a new star for the Harimau Malaya squad.

Intriguingly, Gallifuoco could partner with heritage defender Brad Tapp, who recently impressed with his solid performances for Harimau Malaya at the FIFA Asean Cup.

Tapp played a pivotal role in helping Malaysia finish third and ensured Malaysia's goal remained unbreached throughout the tournament.

Should Gallifuoco also receive the green light to represent the country, a partnership between the two players could offer the coaching staff more options to strengthen the Harimau Malaya defence.