AFC has finalized the fate of 7 illegally naturalized Malaysian players; will Vietnam's national team benefit?

The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has issued a new update regarding the case of seven naturalized players in Malaysia’s national squad.

Currently, the matter involving FIFA, the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM), and these seven players is reaching its final stage. The case has been submitted to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) to safeguard the rights of the seven Malaysian-born players.

In a statement following the fifth meeting of FAM’s special executive committee for the 2025-2029 term, AFC declared that it is closely monitoring the situation to fully understand the status of Malaysian football. AFC Secretary General, Datuk Seri Windsor John Paul, said after the meeting that currently these seven players are only permitted to play for their clubs.

Mr. Windsor stated: “We are in discussions with FIFA to obtain complete details. AFC also wants to clarify whether these players are allowed to represent the national team. Up to now, they are only authorized to compete for their clubs.”

This stance follows FIFA’s initial decision regarding matches involving Harimau Malaya that featured the seven players. He added: “This is because FIFA issued a separate ruling on friendly matches. It was decided that these seven players are not eligible to play for the national team. AFC must also await detailed information from CAS as we have only received a brief explanation so far.”

As of now, the seven Malaysian-born players have been granted a “Stay of Execution,” allowing them to continue playing for their respective clubs. CAS is expected to hold a hearing on February 26, 2026, to make a final ruling on the future of these seven players with Harimau Malaya.

The match between Vietnam’s national team and Malaysia’s national team in the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers is scheduled to take place at Thien Truong Stadium (Nam Dinh) on March 31, 2026.