Despite AFC's defeat ruling, Malaysia's coach still regrets using 7 fraudulent naturalized players against Vietnam.

Malaysian media states that coach Peter Cklamovski has no regrets about employing 7 fraudulent naturalized players in the match against Vietnam last year during the Asian Cup 2027 qualifiers.

In response to Malaysian press, coach Peter Cklamovski asserts that his decision to use 7 naturalized players during the Asian Cup 2027 qualifiers last year was correct.

However, the 7 players mentioned—Facundo Garcés, Rodrigo Holgado, Imanol Machuca, Joao Figueiredo, Gabriel Arrocha, Jon Irazabal, and Hector Hevel—were found by FIFA to have falsified documents and were ineligible. AFC recently ruled Malaysia's two matches in the Asian Cup 2026 qualifiers last year as forfeits, including the match against Vietnam.

Coach Cklamovski says that once the players were approved by the team management, his responsibility was to utilize them. The Australian coach emphasizes that his role focuses on technical matters, not administrative issues.

“I wouldn’t be able to perform my main duties well if I interfered in other areas. Looking at the simple fact, they were permitted to play, so why should I doubt that? It’s just that straightforward,” Coach Cklamovski stated.

“If they weren’t eligible, they wouldn’t have been selected. To me, that’s very clear,” the Malaysia national team coach emphasized.

Coach Cklamovski defends his decision to call up veteran Junior Eldstal from Johor Darul Ta'zim to the Malaysia national team ahead of the match against Vietnam in Asian Cup Group F on March 31 in Nam Dinh. Eldstal sparked controversy as he hasn’t played in the Super League this season and only appeared for the reserve team in the A1 Semi-Pro League.

FIFA suspended players Facundo Garcés, Rodrigo Holgado, Imanol Machuca, Joao Figueiredo, Gabriel Arrocha, Jon Irazabal, and Hector Hevel for falsifying documents in the case related to eligibility for the Malaysia national team.

The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) decided to deduct 6 points from the Malaysia national team after they used ineligible players in matches against Nepal at Sultan Ibrahim Stadium, Iskandar Puteri, on March 25, 2025, and against Vietnam at Bukit Jalil National Stadium on June 10, 2025.

AFC ruled that Malaysia forfeited both matches 3-0 according to Article 25.1 of the AFC Disciplinary & Ethics Code. Additionally, the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) was fined USD 50,000 (approximately RM 196,119) for submitting false documents enabling 7 players—Facundo Garcés, Rodrigo Holgado, Imanol Machuca, Joao Figueiredo, Gabriel Arrocha, Jon Irazabal, and Hector Hevel—to play for Malaysia internationally.

With AFC’s ruling, Vietnam secured qualification for the Asian Cup 2027 finals, and the rematch against Malaysia on March 31 is now merely procedural.