When will AFC rule Malaysia's 0-3 loss to the Vietnamese national team?

AFC could make a decision related to the Malaysian national team's matches, which may include a 0-3 loss to the Vietnamese national team, prior to the 2027 Asian Cup Finals draw.

The naturalization scandal in Malaysian football has become a regional focus, especially after the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) issued its latest ruling. Many are asking: when will the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) officially decide on the Malaysian national team's matches, including the potential 0-3 loss to the Vietnamese national team?

On March 5, CAS announced its ruling on the appeals by seven players and the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) regarding FIFA's disciplinary sanctions. Accordingly, CAS partially upheld the players' appeals by adjusting the scope of the penalties. The 12-month playing ban remains but now applies only to official matches, rather than all football-related activities as before.

Meanwhile, FAM's appeal was completely rejected. CAS upheld the CHF 350,000 fine previously imposed by FIFA on the Football Association of Malaysia. This ruling also confirms that the fraud involving player eligibility documents has been proven.

Previously, on September 25, 2025, the FIFA Disciplinary Committee concluded that FAM and seven players had used forged documents to establish eligibility for the Malaysian national team, despite the players lacking a genuine connection to the country. This disciplinary decision was subsequently upheld by the FIFA Appeal Committee on November 3, 2025.

According to FIFA and AFC precedent, if a team fields an ineligible player, the related matches may be forfeited 0-3, or the result may stand if the actual scoreline is more unfavorable. FIFA previously applied this rule, awarding 0-3 losses to the Malaysian national team in three friendlies against Cape Verde, Palestine, and Singapore.

Currently, AFC is reportedly finalizing procedures following the CAS ruling before making a final decision. Notably, the 2027 Asian Cup Finals draw is scheduled for April 11 in Saudi Arabia. This is seen as a key milestone and potentially the deadline for AFC to issue its ruling on the Malaysian national team's matches, which could directly impact the results of matches against the Vietnamese and Nepalese national teams in the qualifiers.