The Malaysian national team and its football federation are expected to confront penalties following a renewed complaint filed with FIFA.
The All Nepal Football Association (ANFA) has formally submitted a petition to FIFA, requesting the annulment of Malaysia's 2-0 victory in the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers, citing the use of ineligible players by Malaysia.
The core issue centers on Hector Hevel, who scored a goal during the match on March 25 at Sultan Ibrahim Stadium but was later deemed ineligible to play by FIFA.
Previously, on September 26, FIFA penalized the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) for falsifying documents related to seven naturalized players, including Hevel.
These players—Hector Hevel, Joao Figueiredo, Rodrigo Holgado, Imanol Machuca, Facundo Garcés, Jon Irazabal, and Gabriel Palmero—were all banned from participating in any football activities for one year.
If FIFA rules in favor of Nepal, Malaysia's win will likely be revoked.
Should Malaysia be found guilty and handed a 0-3 loss for both matches, the standings in Group F would dramatically shift, with Vietnam rising to first place with 12 points, surpassing Malaysia, which currently holds four wins, by a six-point margin.
Despite the ongoing situation, FAM remains unfazed by ANFA’s complaint and is focusing on appealing FIFA’s ruling regarding the eligibility violations involving the seven players.
Acting President of the Malaysian Football Association, Datuk Mohd Yusoff Mahadi, stated: "This situation is exactly like what happened with the Vietnamese team. We don’t need to overthink Nepal’s complaint; the key now is the outcome of the appeal...
Everything Nepal mentioned concerns those seven players. So, whether we win or lose the appeal, the impact will be the same for both matches against Vietnam and Nepal. Now, we just await the final decision."