When will Malaysia be ruled to lose to Vietnam following the latest decision from CAS?

The most recent verdict from the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) concerning Malaysia's seven naturalized players is of great interest to supporters, especially the key issue: whether the Vietnamese team will be granted a 3-0 win?

CAS confirms violation but does not rule on Malaysia vs Vietnam match result

On the evening of March 5th, CAS officially issued its ruling regarding the case of seven Malaysian naturalized players using invalid documents and paperwork. The court agreed with the conclusion that these players violated eligibility regulations.

However, CAS only partially adjusted the penalty compared to FIFA's initial decision. Specifically, the players remain banned for 12 months, but the sanction applies only to official matches rather than all football activities. Notably, CAS did not directly decide the outcomes of matches in which these players participated. This means any potential changes to match scores—if they occur—will not be determined by CAS.

According to FIFA and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) regulations, if a team fields an ineligible player, the related match may be forfeited 0-3. However, applying this penalty must be done by the competition organizer. In Malaysia's case, the AFC—the organizer of the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers—is the authority to review and make the final decision. CAS only confirmed the violation, while any additional disciplinary measures will depend on the AFC's evaluation process.

Previously, FIFA applied a similar principle by awarding 3-0 defeats to Malaysia in three friendly matches against Cape Verde, Palestine, and Singapore for using ineligible players.

When could the result of the Vietnam vs Malaysia match be changed?

If the AFC decides to review matches involving the seven violating players, those in the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers will certainly be considered. Among them, the encounter between Malaysia and Vietnam is the most closely watched.

However, this process typically does not happen immediately. The AFC will need to assess match records, determine when the violating players took part, and consider the disciplinary rules applicable to the tournament. Therefore, any decision to alter results can only be made after the AFC completes its investigation and legal review, a process that could take weeks or even months.

The CAS ruling has established a vital legal foundation for the next steps in the process. However, there has been no official announcement from the AFC regarding adjusting match results yet. This means the possibility of Malaysia forfeiting to Vietnam 0-3 remains hypothetical for now. Fans must await a decision from the AFC to know whether the match outcome will change.

In the coming period, this case is likely to remain a hot topic in Southeast Asian football, especially as it could directly impact the standings in the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers.