Southeast Asian fans strongly react as Malaysia insists on fielding 7 naturalized players against Vietnam

Malaysia's coach's decision to still use 7 naturalized players before the match against Vietnam surprises Southeast Asian fans, who express doubt and collectively warn that this choice is considered risky.

After Coach Peter Cklamovski openly expressed his desire to continue calling up and using 7 naturalized players in the match against the Vietnam national team on March 31, a wave of debate quickly erupted across Southeast Asian football forums. Although the Court of Arbitration for Sport temporarily suspended FIFA's penalty, many regional fans believe this decision still carries significant risks, both legally and for Malaysia football's image.

Many were surprised by the firmness of Malaysia’s coaching staff. A Thai fan commented: “I don’t understand why Malaysia would dare to take such a risk when the final verdict hasn’t been issued yet”.

This opinion quickly gained agreement from many fans in the region, who believe using players currently involved in disputes is a highly risky move.

On Indonesian forums, many opinions turned sarcastic. One widely shared comment read: “Without naturalized players, Malaysia seems not confident enough to face Vietnam”.

Another fan was more blunt: “Vietnam plays with its own strength, while Malaysia still relies on controversial names”. These remarks reflect a common view that Malaysian football is overly dependent on naturalized players.

Besides sarcasm, many Southeast Asian fans also warned Malaysia about the risk of harsher sanctions. A Singaporean fan wrote: “CAS only temporarily suspended the penalty; if they still use the players and then get penalized with a loss, things will be worse”. Many recalled past precedents where match results could be annulled if rules were violated during the waiting period for the final decision.

On the other hand, Vietnamese fans reacted calmly but confidently. One comment stated: “If Malaysia continues this way, Vietnam benefits more because the opponent faces legal pressure and distraction”.

Another fan predicted: “By playing by the rules and focusing on professionalism, Vietnam has a better chance to win”. These opinions show trust in the stability and discipline of the Vietnam team.

Even some Malaysian fans expressed concern. A rare but notable comment said: “We should be careful; winning against Vietnam but then losing by default is worse than losing on the field”. This shows Coach Cklamovski’s decision does not have unanimous support even among Malaysian supporters.

In summary, most Southeast Asian fans see Malaysia’s insistence on using 7 naturalized players as a risky and unsafe move. In this context, many predict that if Malaysia does not change its approach, the Vietnam team will hold a greater advantage in the upcoming match, both psychologically and in terms of stability on the pitch.