Identify three reasons why AFC has not yet ruled Malaysia's 0-3 loss to Vietnam

ASEAN Football pointed out three key reasons why the Asian Football Confederation has not yet issued a final penalty to the Football Association of Malaysia and its national team.

After the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) dismissed the appeal by the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) regarding seven improperly naturalized players, media, experts, and fans in the region are closely following and awaiting disciplinary action from the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) against this national team.

However, since CAS issued its final conclusion on March 5, AFC has still not made any official announcement, leading to public speculation. To explain this delay, the website ASEAN Football highlighted three main reasons why AFC has not yet announced disciplinary decisions regarding Malaysia.

Specifically, the website ASEAN Football stated: “There are three main reasons why AFC has not yet announced penalties against Malaysia.

First is awaiting completion of legal procedures. CAS only confirmed FIFA's previous ruling, while AFC still needs to initiate its own disciplinary process before making a final decision.

Second is continuing investigation into FAM's responsibility. The Asian football governing body is examining whether this improper naturalization was systematic or organized.

Third is reviewing match results. AFC must assess matches involving the seven relevant players to determine whether a 0-3 forfeit is needed or if rankings should be adjusted.

In summary, although CAS dismissed FAM's appeal, AFC still needs to complete its investigation and disciplinary procedures before issuing an official penalty against Malaysia.”

According to football practice, when a team or national squad uses players who are not eligible to compete, match results are typically forfeited as a 0-3 loss. In Malaysia's case, the seven players accused of falsifying naturalization documents participated in two matches during the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers, including victories over Nepal and Vietnam.

Therefore, Malaysia's national team is likely to lose a total of six points from those two matches. This scenario could give Vietnam's national team a significant advantage in the competition within Group F of the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers.

Besides the question of why AFC has not yet issued penalties against Malaysia, the website ASEAN Football also noted that the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) is unlikely to remain silent on this controversial matter.

ASEAN Football also added: “Will the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) continue to remain silent? That is not entirely certain.

If Malaysia is confirmed to have used ineligible players, the results of related matches could be reconsidered, directly affecting the standings.

However, football federations typically avoid making strong statements before AFC announces its final ruling.

If their interests are impacted, VFF could submit a formal petition to AFC requesting review of the relevant matches.

Currently, the case remains unresolved, and AFC's final decision will play a crucial role in determining the outcome.”

In the near future, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) is likely to announce official disciplinary action against Malaysia's national team. This decision is expected to be made before coach Peter Cklamovski and his team arrive in Vietnam to prepare for the final match in the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers.