Malaysia Hit with 0-3 Defeat in Asia Cup Qualifiers Over Naturalization Scandal

The Malaysian national team has been handed a pair of 3-0 forfeits in their 2027 Asian Cup qualifying matches following a scandal involving the eligibility of naturalized players.

The decision was made by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) on Tuesday, March 17, 2026. The Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) was found to have violated Article 56 of the AFC Disciplinary & Ethics Code by fielding ineligible players in two qualifying matches for the 2027 Asian Cup.

The matches in question are Malaysia’s 2-0 victory over Nepal in Johor on March 25, 2025, and their 4-0 win against Vietnam in Kuala Lumpur on June 10, 2025. These results will now be recorded as 3-0 losses for Malaysia.

The AFC Disciplinary and Ethics Committee ruled that Malaysia would forfeit both matches with a score of 3-0, based on Article 25.1 of the AFC Disciplinary and Ethics Code. FAM has also been fined $50,000 (approximately Rp 850 million).

“FAM has received the decision from the AFC Disciplinary & Ethics Committee which met on Tuesday, March 17, 2026, regarding the case of fielding players who do not meet the requirements,” read an official FAM statement.

Malaysia will submit a written request to obtain the reasoning behind the AFC Disciplinary and Ethics Committee’s decision. FAM is also considering further steps to seize in this matter.

The sanctions against Malaysia stem from a scandal involving seven naturalized players who were fielded in qualifying matches for the 2027 Asian Cup. Those players include Hector Hevel, Imanol Machuca, Facundo Garces, Rodrigo Holgado, Joao Figueiredo, Jon Irazabal and Gabriel Palmero.

Malaysia was found to have manipulated documents for Garces and others, falsely claiming they possessed Malaysian ancestry. All seven players have already been handed one-year bans from FIFA.

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(bay/aff)