Malaysia responds to rumors of a 0-3 forfeit loss to Vietnam

FAM denies rumors that Malaysia was deducted points by AFC for fielding ineligible naturalized players, affirming they will await the official ruling from the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

Acting President of the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM), Datuk Wira Yusoff Mahadi, has dismissed circulating rumors that the Malaysian national team could be penalized by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) with point deductions or forfeits for using naturalized players who do not meet eligibility criteria in the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers.

In recent days, Malaysian social media has been abuzz with claims that AFC will deduct 6 points from Malaysia and award 0-3 losses against Nepal and Vietnam after discovering the team used ineligible players. These rumors quickly stirred public concern among Malaysian fans.

However, in a statement to Stadium Astro, Mr. Yusoff Mahadi firmly stated these are completely baseless speculations: “These are just public guesses. AFC has clearly announced that they will wait for the decision from the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) before taking any action,” he said.

According to the FAM leader, public worries about potential sanctions on Malaysia stem from a recent FIFA decision, where the organization awarded 3-0 losses in three friendly matches involving players who had not completed legal procedures. “Because of that incident, many assumed AFC would act similarly, but there is no basis for this yet,” Mr. Yusoff further explained.

Currently, Mr. Yusoff revealed that FAM is working closely with relevant authorities to clarify the issue concerning allegations of forged documents involving naturalized players, following recommendations from the Independent Investigation Committee (IIC).

FAM confirms its full cooperation with AFC and CAS, while urging fans to remain calm and wait for the official investigation results rather than believing unverified rumors.