Malaysian sports outlet under fire for naming controversial 4-0 win over Vietnam as best moment of the year

Rodrigo Holgado (number 19), Joao Figueireido (14) and Hector Hevel (13), three of the seven naturalized Malaysia players sanctioned by FIFA, play in the 4-0 victory against Vietnam in the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers at Bukit Jalil Stadium, Kuala Lumpur on June 10, 2025. Photo by VnExpress/Hai Tu

The match, played on June 10 at Bukit Jalil Stadium, was a key fixture in the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers and was hailed by the site as the team's best performance of the year, despite the ongoing legal challenges.

SNE Sports argued that from a technical standpoint, the victory represented the peak of the Harimau Malaya’s form, significantly boosting their prospects for the upcoming tournament in Saudi Arabia.

However, the assessment ignores the fact that the result is currently being contested at the Court of Arbitration for Sport, leaving the official status of the match in question.

The choice to make this the moment of the year has been met with significant criticism due to a major player eligibility scandal.

FIFA previously determined that Malaysia fielded seven naturalized players who used falsified documents to represent the national team, which resulted in a 12-month ban for them and a hefty fine for the Football Association of Malaysia.

This ruling has cast a shadow over the 4-0 win against Vietnam and 1-0 win against Nepal in the Asian Cup qualifiers.

Southeast Asian football fans have voiced strong opposition to the selection, noting the only chance to overturn the sanctions is now at CAS.

Should the court rule against Malaysia, the victories against Vietnam and Nepal would likely be converted into 0-3 losses by forfeit.

Observers in the region argued that labeling the match a triumph is premature and could be viewed as an irony once the legal proceedings are officially concluded.