Malaysia hit with 3-0 forfeits to send Vietnam to Asian Cup

AFP | Kuala Lumpur

Email : editor@newsofbahrain.com

Malaysia’s 2027 Asian Cup hopes were ended yesterday after the country was hit with 3-0 forfeits in two qualifiers for fielding ineligible players, sending Vietnam through instead.

It was the latest and possibly final chapter in a scandal over seven foreign-born players who were later banned for using forged documents to play for Malaysia’s national team.

“The defendant fielded ineligible players in the relevant AFC Asian Cup 2027, (Qualifiers Final Round) matches,” the Asian Football Confederation said.

The Kuala Lumpur-based AFC also slapped an additional $50,000 fine on the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM). The ruling leaves Vietnam with an unassailable six-point lead in qualifying Group F for Saudi Arabia in 2027, leapfrogging the Malaysians at the top.

There is one more round of matches, pitting Vietnam home to Malaysia on March 31 in what is now a dead-rubber.

“Although the match no longer holds decisive significance for the final group standings, it is still expected to be a noteworthy contest,” Vietnam’s football federation said in a statement.

FIFA launched an investigation into claims that ineligible players featured in a 4-0 Malaysia win over Vietnam in a qualifier in June.

Two of the seven players at the centre of the scandal scored.