Coach Kim Sang Sik first speaks on AFC's decision to award Malaysia a loss

Coach Kim Sang Sik believes AFC's ruling gives the Vietnam team additional motivation for the return match against Malaysia.

On the morning of March 30, a press conference was held ahead of the match between the Vietnam team and Malaysia in the final round of the Asian Cup 2027 qualifiers. The crucial nature of the match was somewhat diminished as the Vietnam team had officially secured a spot in the Asian Cup 2027 finals after Malaysia was penalized with a 0-3 loss for using an ineligible naturalized player.

Speaking about the initial 0-4 loss in the first leg that was later overturned to a win, Coach Kim Sang Sik expressed: "The 0-4 loss result was disappointing for everyone. Following the recent rulings, it truly serves as motivation for the players in the next match. In tomorrow's game, we hope to secure a victory as a gift for the fans of the Vietnam team."

Meanwhile, defender Van Hau also expressed regret when recalling the first-leg match. He stated that defeat is unavoidable in football, especially when playing away under significant pressure from opposing fans. Nevertheless, Van Hau believes that in the return match, if supported by a large home crowd, the entire team will gain extra motivation to perform better and aim for a positive outcome.

Previously, on March 17, 2026, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) issued a disciplinary decision against the Football Association of Malaysia for violating Article 56 of the Disciplinary and Ethics Code. This decision created a significant turning point for the standings in Group F of the final Asian Cup 2027 qualifiers, directly affecting the rankings and advancement chances of the teams.

Specifically, the Malaysia team was penalized with losses in two matches that had taken place, including the match against Nepal (March 25, 2025) and the match against Vietnam (June 10, 2025). According to Article 25.1 of the rules, Malaysia was awarded a 0-3 loss in both matches due to using a player who did not meet eligibility requirements, regardless of the actual on-field results.

With a 6-point lead over Malaysia and only one qualifying round remaining, the Vietnam team had early secured qualification for the Asian Cup 2027 finals. This result also allowed Coach Kim Sang Sik and his squad to early clinch the top spot in Group F without depending on the outcome of the final round.

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