British journalist warns of major scandal if AFC 'pardons' Malaysia's illegal naturalization case

Malaysia's naturalization scandal has drawn international attention as a British journalist warns AFC could face a major scandal if it fails to strictly handle related violations.

The scandal involving naturalized players in Malaysian football continues to attract international media attention. British journalist John Duerden of ESPN recently warned of the risk of a "major scandal" if the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) does not impose appropriate penalties on the Malaysian team.

According to Duerden, public opinion is questioning AFC's delay in announcing the final decision regarding the case. This draws even more attention as the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has issued a final ruling, providing a basis for AFC to consider disciplinary measures.

“AFC is expected to announce penalties for Malaysia in the coming days. Many believe matches involving ineligible naturalized players could be forfeited or even lead to disqualification from the tournament”, Duerden stated.

This issue not only concerns Malaysian fans but also receives special attention from Vietnam. The two teams are in the same group for the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers, and Malaysia will be Vietnam's opponent in the final match. If Malaysia forfeits matches or is disqualified, Vietnam could open up an opportunity to secure a ticket to the finals in Saudi Arabia.

The ESPN journalist also recalled a precedent involving Timor Leste, when the team was found illegally using several Brazilian players. In 2019, Timor Leste not only had all its Asian Cup qualifying results annulled but was also banned from participating in the 2023 qualifying campaign.

“Timor Leste faced a similar situation when using nine ineligible Brazilian players. The result was that all their achievements were voided, and they were subsequently excluded from Asian Cup qualification”, Duerden added.

One reason causing public concern is that AFC's headquarters are located in Kuala Lumpur. Some opinions suggest influential figures in Malaysian football may be lobbying behind the scenes to help the national team receive lighter penalties.

According to Duerden, if AFC decides to overlook or significantly reduce penalties for Malaysia, it could raise doubts about the transparency of Asian football's governing body.

“Currently, football fans in Malaysia and across Asia are awaiting AFC's final decision. This is a matter directly related to fairness in football,” the British journalist concluded.