Malaysian newspaper reacts as Vietnamese club faces risk of a 0-3 forfeit by AFC

Makan Bola site suggests Công An Hà Nội FC might be penalized with a 0-3 loss by AFC for fielding ineligible players in the AFC Champions League Two round of 16.

Malaysian sports outlet Makan Bola published an attention-grabbing article claiming that Công An Hà Nội FC (CAHN) is at risk of being sanctioned with a forfeit by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) due to violations related to player eligibility in the AFC Champions League Two (ACL2) round of 16.

According to Makan Bola’s analysis, the issue originated from the first leg match between CAHN and Tampines Rovers. Although the Vietnamese side won decisively 4-0 at home, they allegedly fielded two players who should have been suspended after accumulating three yellow cards in the group stage. The two players mentioned are Australian midfielder Stefan Mauk and a foreign player named China.

The article emphasizes that if AFC confirms CAHN’s violation, the Vietnamese club could be handed a 0-3 defeat according to the rules. This would nullify their 4-0 first leg advantage and give Tampines Rovers a significant upper hand before the second leg at home in Singapore on February 18. This is seen as a turning point that could completely alter the tie’s outcome.

Makan Bola also referenced last season’s precedent when Lion City Sailors were awarded a 3-0 win over Sanfrecce Hiroshima due to the opponent fielding an ineligible player. That disciplinary decision opened a golden opportunity for the Singaporean team to advance deep and create an impressive run in ACL2.

The Malaysian newspaper suggested that if a similar scenario happens again, Tampines Rovers could “come back from the brink,” marking another memorable milestone for Singaporean football on the continental stage. Meanwhile, CAHN faces losing their sporting achievement due to an administrative error.

Currently, AFC is expected to issue an official ruling before the second leg. Southeast Asian fans are closely watching the case because the final decision could completely shift the competitive balance in this year’s ACL2.