Chinese media name Vietnam national team as FIFA awards Malaysia a 0-3 loss

Chinese media discusses FIFA's penalty on Malaysia and simultaneously refers to Vietnam amid controversies surrounding player naturalization and fairness in Asian tournaments.

At the start of the article, the Chinese outlet 163 headlines “FIFA issues sanction! Strong Asian team violates naturalization rules: 3 matches forfeited 0-3, fined 90,000 yuan”, to emphasize the severity of the punishment imposed by FIFA on Malaysian football. According to Chinese media, this is not merely a procedural action but a strong message from FIFA.

163 analyzes that in the fiercely competitive Asian football scene, naturalizing players is seen as the quickest way to strengthen national teams. Indonesia and the UAE are cited as positive examples for properly utilizing this policy, significantly improving their standing in the Asian World Cup qualifiers.

Additionally, 163 also mentions the Chinese and Vietnamese national teams within the broader context of naturalization in Asia. For China, many naturalized players have passed their peak, offering limited contribution. Meanwhile, Vietnam hardly relies on large-scale naturalization but is directly affected by opponents’ violations.

From here, Chinese media shifts focus to Malaysia considering it the most serious failure. FIFA determined that Malaysia had breached naturalization rules by fielding ineligible players, resulting in a 0-3 forfeit in three A-level friendlies against Cape Verde, Singapore, and Palestine, despite originally favorable results on the pitch.

Besides annulling results, the Malaysian Football Association was fined 10,000 Swiss francs, equivalent to around 90,000 yuan (approximately 336 million VND). Previously, FIFA banned 7 players for 12 months related to fake naturalization cases, highlighting the systemic nature of the violation.

163 also recalls Malaysia’s 4-0 win over Vietnam in the Asian Cup qualifiers, where ineligible naturalized players participated. Although FIFA cannot overturn this result as the decision rests solely with AFC, Chinese media believes Vietnam’s frustration is understandable and may prompt AFC to consider further actions.

In conclusion, 163 asserts that naturalization itself is not the issue; compliance with rules is. Indonesia and the UAE are seen as following the right path, while Malaysia serves as a clear warning lesson for all Asian football.