KUALA LUMPUR – The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has rejected recent online claims that Malaysia has been sanctioned by the governing body for allegedly fielding ineligible players during the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers.
A report by a news portal (seasiagoal) claimed that “100 per cent” Malaysia would face sanctions, including 0-3 forfeits in matches against Nepal and Vietnam, and potential bans from the 2027 and 2031 Asian Cup editions.
Speaking to Scoop, AFC Secretary-General Datuk Seri Windsor Paul John labelled the report “fake news.”
“That is not true. The story is fake, and we have not made any decision yet,” Windsor briefly told Scoop.
He added that AFC has not made any determination and is not currently considering measures similar to FIFA’s.
“We are waiting for the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) to review the matter first. The FIFA ruling has only just been issued, so we need to examine it carefully,” he said.
The governing body confirmed it will give the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) full space to resolve the issue through CAS before taking any further action.
Earlier, FIFA annulled Malaysia’s results in friendly matches against Cape Verde, Singapore, and Palestine after the national team fielded ineligible players, awarding 0-3 defeats for all three games. – December 24, 2025