HOT: AFC 99% likely to award Vietnam a 3-0 win due to Malaysia's illegal naturalization

A new ruling from CAS puts Malaysia at risk of AFC awarding two qualifying match losses, opening a significant advantage for the Vietnamese team.

After months of legal dispute, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has announced its ruling regarding the Malaysian football scandal. The body reviewed appeals against the previous sanctions imposed by the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) on seven players found to have used fraudulent naturalization documents and invalid eligibility papers.

According to the official announcement, CAS dismissed the appeal by the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) but partially accepted the appeals from the seven players. This decision not only concludes the prolonged legal dispute but could also significantly impact the standings of Group F in the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers, where the Vietnamese and Malaysian teams are competing for a progression spot.

The CAS ruling places Malaysia at a very high risk of being the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) awarding losses for two matches against Vietnam and Nepal due to fielding ineligible players.If this scenario materializes, Malaysia will be deducted 6 points from the aforementioned matches, reducing their current 15 points to just 9.

Meanwhile, the Vietnamese team currently has 12 points and is highly likely to be awarded an additional 3 points from the match against Malaysia. This means the Vietnamese team would rise to the top of the group and officially secure a ticket to the 2027 Asian Cup Finals, regardless of the results on the final matchday of March 31st. The remaining 3 points would be awarded to Nepal, a team already eliminated from the race.

On the disciplinary front, CAS confirmed that violations were established through evidence and the hearing process. The body stated that it "partially accepted the appeals of the seven players against the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), concerning the sanctions for falsifying naturalization documents and eligibility criteria".

According to the new decision, "The CAS panel decided that the seven players will be suspended for 12 months, but this applies only to official matches, rather than a blanket ban on all football-related activities." This means they can still train and participate in club activities during their suspension period.

Meanwhile, the appeal efforts by FAM did not yield a positive outcome."Conversely, the joint appeal by the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) WAS DISMISSED, meaning the fine of 350,000 Swiss Francs (CHF) imposed by FIFA on FAM remains in effect."

Previously, FIFA's disciplinary body determined that FAM and the seven players had used forged documents during the process of applying for nationality and registering for international eligibility. Following a hearing in Lausanne in late February 2026, the CAS panel maintained that fraudulent conduct was established, closing one of the region's most controversial football disputes.