Malaysia, 16 March 2026 – On March 16, the AFC and the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) held a press conference to clarify the public speculation surrounding the case involving Malaysia allegedly fielding seven ineligible naturalized players.
According to the AFC, its Disciplinary and Ethics Committee officially began the disciplinary review process last week. FAM has been requested to submit a detailed explanation within 7 to 10 days, following procedures similar to those previously used by FIFA in comparable cases.
Once the AFC receives the official response from FAM, the Disciplinary Committee will convene to review the entire case file and related evidence. The evaluation will consider several factors, including FAM’s written explanation, any potential mitigating circumstances, and documents previously recorded by FIFA and the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
AFC General Secretary Windsor John stated that the organization aims to resolve the matter as soon as possible since the issue has already lasted for several months. He also emphasized that if FAM believes the final ruling is unfair, the Malaysian federation has the right to appeal within AFC or even take the case again to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
At present, various reports claim that Malaysia has already been handed 3–0 defeats in their matches against Vietnam and Nepal. However, the AFC has not confirmed these reports and has also not announced any specific date for the final decision.
“This is not a case that can be taken lightly. Every detail must be carefully verified before a final verdict is issued,” Windsor John stressed. He added that while the AFC Disciplinary Committee has the authority to impose sanctions, any decision must strictly comply with the organization’s current disciplinary regulations.
Therefore, contrary to many circulating rumors, as of 2:00 PM on March 16, the AFC has not officially announced any ruling awarding Vietnam or Nepal a 3–0 victory over Malaysia. The final decision will only be made after FAM submits its explanation and the AFC Disciplinary Committee completes its evaluation of the case.
VSN/RPT
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