Malaysian Football Association reacts after AFC penalizes them with a 0-3 loss to Vietnam

The Malaysian Football Association issued a statement following AFC's penalty, which resulted in a 0-3 loss to the Vietnam national team, costing them 6 crucial points and putting them at significant risk of missing the 2027 Asian Cup.

Malaysian Football Association has officially responded after receiving a penalty from AFC regarding the use of an ineligible player during the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers.

According to the announcement published on March 17, AFC's Disciplinary & Ethics Committee concluded that FAM violated Article 56 of the organization's regulations. The violation stemmed from the Malaysian national team using an invalid player in two matches of the AFC Asian Cup 2027 qualifiers.

Specifically, the two matches subject to penalty include a 2-0 victory over Nepal and notably a 4-0 win against the Vietnam national football team at Bukit Jalil Stadium in June 2025. However, according to the latest ruling, both results have been annulled, and Malaysia has been penalized with a 0-3 loss for each match under Article 25.1.

In its official response, FAM confirmed it has received AFC's decision and acknowledged this is a major blow to the national team's campaign. The penalty not only caused "Harimau Malaya" to lose 6 crucial points but also severely impacted their chances of competing for a spot in the final round.

In addition to the penalty loss, FAM must also pay a fine amounting to 50,000 USD. Given this situation, the Malaysian Football Association stated it will request AFC to provide the full detailed explanatory documents as a basis for considering further steps.

Notably, FAM does not rule out the possibility of filing an appeal if they find appropriate grounds. This move indicates Malaysia is still carefully considering options to protect its interests in this unfavorable situation.

Being penalized with a 0-3 loss to the Vietnam national team not only altered the dynamics of the group standings but also dealt a heavy blow to Malaysian football's ambitions. Meanwhile, the Vietnam national team benefits significantly from this decision, thereby expanding their opportunities to progress further in the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers.