The Vietnamese national team awaits a fair ruling from CAS: FIFA has already ruled Malaysia the loser in the friendly match, so…

AFC Secretary General Windsor Paul John hinted at the possibility that the CAS could rule in favor of the seven naturalized Malaysian players. However, if this happens, it would be unfair to Vietnamese football and would set a very bad precedent for Southeast Asian football.

FIFA maintains its stance that the Malaysian naturalized player committed fraud.

It's no coincidence that FIFA released dozens of pages of documents detailing how a group of seven Malaysian naturalized players – Facundo Garces, Rodrigo Holgado, Imanol Machuca, Joao Figueiredo, Gabriel Palmero, Jon Irazabal, and Hector Hevel – deliberately deceived FIFA and the football world to obtain Malaysian citizenship. Thanks to this naturalization, the team nicknamed Harimau Malaya surged to the top of Group F in the third round of the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers, a group that includes the Vietnamese national team.

The Vietnamese team deserved to be declared the winner against the Malaysian team.

Photo: Ngoc Linh

FIFA has confirmed this was a case of fraud. The world football governing body has imposed a one-year ban on each player involved and has also forfeited Malaysia 's friendly matches against Singapore, Palestine, and Cape Verde in 2025. This is seen as a precursor to potential penalties for Malaysia in their matches against Nepal and Vietnam in the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers.

FIFA's disciplinary process is only stalled while the World Football Federation awaits the final ruling from the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). Therefore, if CAS changes this disciplinary order, if CAS acquits the seven naturalized Malaysian players, thereby allowing the Malaysian team to retain their 4-0 victory against Vietnam on June 10, 2025, it would be unfair to the Vietnamese team.

The unfairness lies in the fact that, between a side that adheres to FIFA and AFC regulations and rules, uses players legally, and follows the rules of the game, and a side that lacks transparency in the use of players of foreign origin, the side lacking transparency is awarded the victory.

The AFC has confirmed that a protest against the naturalization of 7 Malaysian players was sent from Vietnam.

The whole of Southeast Asia is holding its breath, and the Vietnamese team believes that justice will be served.

Regarding this issue, former Vice President of the Southeast Asian Football Federation (AFF), Duong Vu Lam, commented: "Based on the information I have followed in the press for a long time, and according to the conclusion from FIFA not long ago, the Malaysian naturalized players are the ones who are in the wrong. These players themselves have made inconsistent statements, revealing many suspicious details about their origins, during the hearing with FIFA in November 2025. Therefore, I await a fair ruling from CAS, a fair ruling for Vietnamese football."

Southeast Asian football will be negatively impacted if the CAS rules in favor of the naturalized Malaysian players.

Photo: Ngoc Linh

Sharing Mr. Lam's view, CNN Indonesia commented that the Malaysian national team and its naturalized players should not be the winners at CAS. CNN Indonesia wrote: "FIFA previously annulled the results of three international friendly matches of the Malaysian national team against Singapore, Palestine, and Cape Verde. In each match, the Malaysian team was handed a 0-3 defeat, meaning Malaysia lost points in the FIFA rankings."

The Malaysian national team is currently facing the risk of having their victories against Nepal and Vietnam in the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers annulled, also due to the use of seven naturalized players involved in the case. The temporary suspension of the CAS ruling against the seven naturalized players is a rare positive sign for the Malaysian team regarding this issue over the past several months. However, this should not be considered an official ruling. When an official ruling is issued, if CAS concludes that the seven players and Malaysian football committed fraud, the penalties they face could be even more severe.

It's also important to know that the upcoming CAS ruling (expected after February 26th) could have a significant impact on Southeast Asian football. If CAS takes a firm stance and thoroughly handles the case of the seven naturalized Malaysian players, Malaysian football and the rest of Southeast Asian football will adhere better to discipline, tighten the naturalization process for players, and strictly comply with FIFA regulations.

Conversely, if the ruling favors these seven naturalized players, the development structure of Southeast Asian football will be severely affected. Many football nations in the region, instead of focusing on youth development and building from the ground up, will follow Malaysia's lead, indiscriminately naturalizing players regardless of regulations, solely for short-term gains and without regard for the long-term future!

Thanhnien.vn

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/doi-tuyen-viet-nam-cho-doi-cas-phan-quyet-cong-bang-fifa-da-xu-malaysia-thua-giao-huu-vay-nen-185260212134300414.htm