Asian fans react strongly as Malaysia is penalized with a 0-3 loss to Vietnam by AFC

The AFC's ruling to penalize Malaysia with a loss reversed the group situation and triggered a huge wave of responses from supporters throughout Asia.

According to an announcement from the AFC Disciplinary & Ethics Committee today, March 17, the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) was found to have violated Article 56 of the Code by using an ineligible player during the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers. Two related matches—the 2-0 win over Nepal (March 25, 2025) and notably the 4-0 victory against Vietnam (June 10, 2025)—were both annulled.

The AFC subsequently applied Article 25.1 to award Malaysia a 0-3 loss in both matches, thereby stripping the team of all six points earned. Not only that, FAM also faces a $50,000 fine and a significant risk of being eliminated from the race to secure a spot in the 2027 Asian Cup finals in Saudi Arabia.

On the standings table, Malaysia dropped to second place with 9 points, while the Vietnamese team rose to the top with 15 points and firmly secured the group lead.

Immediately after the penalty was announced, the Asian fan community erupted into debate with many conflicting opinions.

A Korean fan commented: “This is a fair penalty; rules must be strictly enforced to ensure fairness for all teams.”

Meanwhile, a Japanese fan shared: “Malaysia made their own mistake. At this level, such errors are unacceptable.”

However, many expressed regret. A UAE fan remarked: “The on-field result has been erased, which always leaves fans feeling disappointed.”

On the other hand, a Malaysian fan voiced frustration: “We have to blame ourselves; this is truly a stain on Malaysian football.”

Currently, FAM stated it will request the AFC to provide full explanatory documents before deciding on next steps, including the possibility of an appeal. However, with the deduction of 6 points, Malaysia's chance to participate in the 2027 Asian Cup has become more precarious than ever.