Malaysia suffers 3-0 forfeits in qualifiers boosting Vietnam's path to Asian Cup

Malaysias prospects for the 2027 Asian Cup have ended following 3-0 forfeits imposed on the nation in two qualifying matches due to the use of ineligible players, as announced by the regional football authority on Tuesday, thereby advancing Vietnam.

This marks the most recent and potentially concluding development in an extended controversy involving seven players born abroad who employed fake paperwork to represent Malaysias national squad.

The Asian Football Confederation stated: "The defendant fielded ineligible players in the relevant AFC Asian Cup 2027, (Qualifiers Final Round) matches."

This decision positions Vietnam with a commanding six-point advantage in their group for the tournament in Saudi Arabia in 2027.

An additional round of fixtures remains, featuring Vietnam versus Malaysia on March 31, now rendered inconsequential.

In September, FIFA initiated an investigation into allegations that ineligible participants appeared in a 4-0 triumph over Vietnam during a qualifier in June of the previous year.

That outcome, along with a 2-0 success against Nepal in March of the prior year, have subsequently been nullified.

The global governing organisation determined that the naturalisation processes for the players relied on "falsified documents" and that none possessed Malaysian lineage or heritage.

FIFA barred the players and imposed fines exceeding $448000 on the Football Association of Malaysia.

Subsequently, the FAM and the players lodged an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport based in Switzerland.

At the start of the month, CAS marginally eased the penalties on the seven players.

It decided that they could recommence training with their clubs and engage in football related pursuits, although their one year prohibition from competitive fixtures, retroactive to September, stays effective.

FIFA identified three of the players as originally from Argentina, two from Spain, one from the Netherlands, and one from Brazil.

The individuals involved are: Hector Hevel, Jon Irazabal, Gabriel Palmero, Facundo Garces, Rodrigo Holgado, Imanol Machuca and Joao Brandao Figueiredo