Will Malaysia get 0-3 defeat punishment for using ineligible players against Vietnam in Asian Cup qualifiers?

By Xuan Binh September 27, 2025 | 02:59 am PT

Striker Joao Figueireido celebrates after scoring Malaysia's opening goal against Vietnam at Bukit Jalil Stadium, Kuala Lumpur, in the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers, on June 10, 2025. Photo by VnExpress/Hai Tu

According to Asian Football Confederation (AFC) regulations, Malaysia must be penalized with a 0-3 defeat in place of their 4-0 victory over Vietnam in the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers after FIFA sanctioned seven naturalized players for using falsified documents.

FIFA on Friday announced the suspension of players Gabriel Palmero, Jon Irazabal (Spain), Facundo Garces, Rodrigo Holgado, Imanol Machuca (Argentina), Joao Figueireido (Brazil) and Hector Hevel (Netherlands). Each player is suspended from all football-related activities for 12 months and fined 2000 Swiss francs (US$2,506), while the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) was fined 350,000 Swiss francs ($438,700).

The seven players all contributed to Malaysia 4-0 victory over Vietnam at the Asian Cup qualifier in June.

The decision whether to cancel their victory is now up to the AFC, which oversees the 2027 Asian Cup regulations.

AFC Disciplinary and Ethics Code states that all players must be properly registered, hold a valid nationality and be eligible according to FIFA and AFC regulations. The code specifies that using an ineligible player automatically triggers a 0-3 forfeit and a minimum fine of at least $1,000 to the team and player. Since Malaysia fielded seven ineligible players, a reversal of the 4-0 win against Vietnam is almost certain.

Similar incidents in the past support this outcome. Bolivia automatically lost 0-3 in two World Cup qualifying matches for fielding an ineligible player in 2016 and 2018, while Equatorial Guinea had two 0-3 losses in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers after captain Emilio Nsue was deemed ineligible, despite having switched his nationality from Spanish. A year later, FIFA officially recognized Nsue as an Equatorial Guinea player, but did not reverse their decision, Reuters reported.

In March 2025, Sanfrecce Hiroshima's 6-1 win over Lion City Sailors in the AFC Champions League Two was reversed to a 0-3 loss and a $1,000 fine when striker Valere Germain played while serving a suspension, according to ESPN.

This month, South Africa were facing the risk of losing 0-3 for fielding midfielder Teboho Mokoena, who was serving a suspension in a World Cup qualifier, in the match against Lesotho. FIFA is reviewing the matter, but has yet to announce the penalty for South Africa.

Ecuador were a rare exception. In the 2022 World Cup qualifiers, Chile sued their defender Byron Castillo for using fake documents, claiming he was actually Colombian, according to BBC. However, FIFA and the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) concluded that the evidence was insufficient. Ecuador upheld the result and qualified for the World Cup.

Midfielder Emilio Nsue during the match between Equatorial Guinea and Sierra Leone at Limbe Omnisport Stadium, Limbe City, Cameroon in African Cup of Nations on Jan. 20, 2022. Photo by Reuters

Unlike Ecuador, where evidence was insufficient to reverse a result, Malaysia’s violation has been confirmed by FIFA.

An early ruling from AFC is expected to avoid disrupting the qualifier schedule, although the Football Association of Malaysia retains the right to appeal to FIFA, AFC, and Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

Group F standings of the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers currently show Malaysia leading with six points, Vietnam and Laos on three points each and Nepal at the bottom. If the 0-3 forfeit is applied, Vietnam will top the group, while Malaysia drop to second. The two teams are scheduled to face each other again on March 31, 2026, in the final round of the qualifiers, assuming Malaysia still remain in the tournament.