KUALA LUMPUR, July 30 — Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said today he was open to including naturalised players in the national football team, but warned against fielding an entire team of foreigners.

Dr Mahathir said many national football teams used players from other countries.

"So we can take (players from abroad), but not until it reaches a point where all 11 players are from foreign countries.

"Our players have to be in the team also,” he said when speaking to reporters at the Parliament lobby this morning.

The comments followed suggestions by Malaysian Football Coaches Association (MFCA) president B. Sathianathan, who suggested naturalised players be accepted to improve the worsening performance of the national team.

Sathianathan was reported saying the absorption of naturalised players should only function as a short-term move, while the National Football Development Programme (NFDP) is being set up.

The report also quoted Sathianathan explaining how the temporary solution using naturalised players has been practised before by top nations, drawing example from the French national football team that won the World Cup with a team consisting of naturalised players.

He had also suggested that research be done to identify the weakness of local players, and steps be taken to solve the problems.