Malaysia paid the price, but still had a chance.

With six points forfeited, the ticket to the 2027 Asian Cup slipped from their grasp, but within the framework of international football discipline, what Malaysia received may still be a much more "reasonable" price to pay compared to the risks they created.

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The Malaysian national team collapsed in the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers after just one decision.

From leading the table with a perfect 15 points, they were dragged down to just 9 points. Two wins were erased, replaced by two 0-3 defeats. Their ticket to the 2027 Asian Cup also slipped out of their grasp.

Everything happened without a single play, without 90 minutes. It was the kind of defeat where you couldn't blame it on form or tactics.

But looking solely at the results, losing points and tickets isn't enough to fully assess the severity of the penalty.

A lawful penalty, but not the maximum penalty.

The crux of the matter lies in Malaysia's use of ineligible players. This is one of the most fundamental flaws in the professional football management system.

FIFA and AFC regulations clearly state that a team using an ineligible player will be penalized with a loss. There are no exceptions, no loopholes. Therefore, Malaysia's 0-3 defeat in both matches was an inevitable consequence, not a harsh decision.

The problem is: that's not all they might have to face.

Malaysian football is paying the price for irregularities related to player naturalization.

In many precedents, incidents involving player conduct, especially when there are signs of systemic misconduct, can lead to much harsher penalties. The federation may be banned from future tournaments, placed under special supervision, or face more extensive disciplinary measures against its governing body.

Malaysia is different.

The AFC stopped at canceling the results and imposing a $50,000 fine. There was no suspension, no ban, and no move to extend the action to other leagues.

If weighed against the grain, this is more of a "standardization of regulations" decision than a radical punishment.

Malaysia lost 6 points. They lost the top spot. They lost their chance to advance.

But they haven't lost their future.

That's the point that needs to be clearly understood. Because in many similar cases, the consequences don't stop at a single qualifying campaign. It can extend into years, directly affecting the ability to participate in international tournaments, and even shaking the entire operating system.

Here, Malaysia has largely retained its "foundation." They are not banned from competing in other tournaments. They are not subject to long-term disciplinary measures. They are not placed under special supervision.

In other words, Malaysian football has only missed an opportunity, not lost its entire development cycle.

Therefore, this can be seen as a form of "damage limitation." A major mistake, but the consequences are contained at a level sufficient for punishment, not to the point of complete annihilation.

The real price is off the scorecard.

However, it would be wrong to say that Malaysia "escaped disaster." What they lost was not just 6 points or a ticket. What they lost was confidence.

Fans protested outside the offices of the Football Association of Malaysia.

In modern football, where everything is tightly controlled from player records to eligibility, a transgression involving as many as seven players cannot be considered a minor error. It raises questions about the process, the management capabilities, and the level of professionalism of the entire system.

That's a loss that can't be measured in points.

Meanwhile, their direct rivals moved forward. The Vietnamese team went from chasing to advancing. The regional landscape thus changed in a way that left Malaysia with no power to intervene.

The difference lies not only in the rankings, but also in how a team operates and adheres to the rules of the game.

Malaysia has paid the price, that's undeniable. But if you look closely, they haven't yet reached the worst-case scenario.

In a football world increasingly critical of misconduct, losing just one qualifying campaign, instead of having the entire system dragged down, is sometimes considered a stroke of "luck".

And that's why this penalty, while sufficient to disqualify Malaysia, can still be considered… not the harshest possible punishment.

Source: https://znews.vn/malaysia-tra-gia-nhung-van-con-may-post1635535.html