Chinese football fans express frustration on behalf of Vietnam over FIFA's 0-3 loss ruling against Malaysia

FIFA's 0-3 penalty against Malaysia has stirred a strong reaction among Chinese football fans, prompting intense discussions and analysis, with Vietnam's national team also being mentioned.

The FIFA Disciplinary Committee's decision to award Malaysia a 0-3 loss in all three international friendly matches due to fielding ineligible players quickly spread across Asian football forums. Specifically, these matches were against Cape Verde on May 29, Singapore on September 4, and Palestine on September 8. In China, major media outlets like Sohu and Hupu reported that many fans were surprised by FIFA’s strict sanctions, even though these were just friendly matches, which are usually considered less important.

Numerous opinions suggested that this signaled FIFA is taking serious action, no longer lenient on violations related to naturalization issues. One Chinese fan briefly but pointedly commented: “Even friendlies are punished with 0-3 losses; this time FIFA is serious.” This viewpoint gained wide agreement, reflecting the strong impression made by the severity of the penalty.

Additionally, the accompanying fine became a hot topic for debate. Some saw it as an excessively high price for a systemic mistake in Malaysian football. A bitter comment read: “90,000 RMB (about 3.36 billion VND) for a lesson; Malaysia is truly destroying its future.” According to this fan, the consequences extend beyond money or results to long-term credibility.

Another viewpoint focused on criticizing the rampant naturalization policy. The anger was expressed with harsh words, accusing Malaysia’s approach of crossing the line. One fan bluntly stated: “This is really bizarre, naturalizing players but turning it into… a scam.” This comment clearly shows a loss of trust.

Another Chinese fan provided a detailed analysis of international regulations, arguing the problem lies in failing to meet the residency requirement under the law. This person wrote: “According to international rules, foreign players must play for 5 years before naturalization… if naturalized, do it properly, otherwise don’t naturalize at all!” This opinion sparked much debate and disagreement.

Notably, some fans mentioned the Vietnamese national teams affected by this controversy. A comment framed as an argument stated: “Vietnam’s national team got dragged into this mess unwillingly and suffered unfairly because the opponent cheated. What justice is there for Vietnam?”

This shows that FIFA’s penalty not only shocked Malaysia but also left a significant impact on regional public opinion. Meanwhile, Chinese fans are also closely watching the final decision from AFC regarding the match between Vietnam and Malaysia held in June 2025.

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