Monday, 6th April 2026
Khabor Wala Desk
Published: 17th March 2026, 1:16 PM
Malaysia has been eliminated from the race to qualify for the 2027 Asian Cup after the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) annulled two of their victories in the qualification rounds. The decision comes after the AFC determined that Malaysia fielded players who were ineligible to represent the national team.
The matches in question were Malaysia’s 3–0 victories over Nepal and Vietnam in the third round of the qualifiers. With these wins voided, Malaysia now trails group leaders Vietnam by six points. Each of the four teams in Group F has one remaining match, leaving Malaysia no mathematical chance to overtake Vietnam for a spot in the final tournament. Vietnam, having secured 15 points from five matches, has qualified for the Asian Cup.
| Team | Played | Wins | Draws | Losses | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vietnam | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 15 |
| Malaysia | 5 | 3* | 1 | 1 | 9* |
| Nepal | 5 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 3 |
| Laos | 5 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 1 |
*Two victories annulled by AFC sanctions.
In addition to the annulment of results, the AFC has fined the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) USD 50,000, which must be paid within 30 days. FAM stated on its official website that it will review the AFC’s official documents before determining its next course of action.
Earlier this month, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) partially upheld FIFA’s disciplinary actions. Seven Malaysian players who used falsified citizenship documents were banned from official matches for 12 months. CAS also confirmed that FAM must pay a fine of 350,000 Swiss francs (approximately USD 444,275) imposed by FIFA.
Among the banned players is central defender Facundo Garcés, who plays for Spanish club Deportivo Alavés. In September, FIFA handed the one-year ban after investigations revealed that these seven players had used falsified documentation to represent Malaysia, including in the qualifier against Vietnam.
The sanctions mark a major setback for Malaysian football, ending their aspirations for the 2027 Asian Cup and reinforcing the strict eligibility rules governing international competition. With only one match remaining, Malaysia’s focus now shifts to internal reforms and ensuring compliance with AFC and FIFA regulations in future tournaments.
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