Malaysian media calls the 4-0 victory over Vietnam the best moment of 2025

A Malaysian sports site praising the 4-0 win against Vietnam as the image of the year has ignited fierce debate, given that the naturalization scandal has yet to be closed.

In recent days, SNE Sports has drawn regional football fans' attention by selecting an image from the Malaysia 4-0 win over Vietnam on June 10, 2025 as the “most beautiful moment of the year.”

The site claims this was Harimau Malaya’s best performance in the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers, temporarily propelling the team to the top of the group and opening a great chance to qualify for the finals in Saudi Arabia. SNE Sports emphasized that although the result is still pending the final ruling from CAS, this match deserves to be considered the best of the year from a technical standpoint.

However, this celebration immediately faced strong backlash from Southeast Asian supporters. For many fans, the 4-0 victory is not only about the scoreline but is closely linked to the case of seven Malaysian naturalized players found to have forged or altered documents related to eligibility conditions. The 12-month ban imposed on these players, along with heavy financial penalties on the Malaysian Football Federation, turned the match into a prolonged controversy lasting for months.

Under SNE Sports’ post, numerous mocking comments appeared. A Thai fan wrote: “The photo looks good, but the most beautiful must be the paperwork before the match”.

An Indonesian supporter sarcastically commented: “Southeast Asia has many great matches, but only one has to wait for a court’s decision on its validity”. A neutral account remarked: “Calling it the best moment while the result is still pending is a bit premature”.

Vietnamese fans reacted even more strongly. Many opinions suggested that honoring a match under question for transparency shows disrespect to sportsmanship.

An upset fan commented: “Pride based on violations only damages regional football’s reputation”. Another opinion sharply mocked: “If they lose by forfeit later, I wonder what this photo will be called as the moment of the year”.

 

The controversy widened as many fans mentioned the scenario where Malaysia might be handed a 0-3 loss if CAS or Asian authorities issue an unfavorable ruling. In that case, the celebrated 4-0 victory would lose its value, making the title “best match of the year” ironic. A Singaporean fan summed it up briefly: “Beautiful football is not just about the score, but how you win”.

Although SNE Sports insists their choice is based on on-field performance, the strong reactions from fans show that for most in the region, Malaysia’s win over Vietnam cannot yet be seen as a complete moment until the final verdict is concluded.