VFF officially responds to the suspension of the penalty for 7 Malaysian naturalized players

Concerning the temporary suspension of the penalty for the 7 Malaysian naturalized players, VFF emphasizes that this is just an interim step and the final ruling from CAS is still pending.

About the latest decision from the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) on the temporary suspension of the penalty against the 7 Malaysian naturalized players, the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) asserts it is closely monitoring developments and awaiting the final conclusive decision from the authority. According to VFF, the current CAS ruling is only temporary and cannot yet be considered a final conclusion on the matter.

The CAS allowing the suspension of the penalty enables the group of players including Gabriel Palmero, Jon Irazabal, Facundo Garces, Imanol Machuca, Rodrigo Holgado, Hector Hevel, and Joao Figueireido to continue playing while awaiting the trial. However, from VFF’s perspective, this does not represent a “vindication” or a legally valid confirmation regarding the controversial naturalization cases.

According to information from Dân Trí on the afternoon of January 28, a senior VFF official stated that CAS’s decision to suspend the penalty is humanitarian in nature, allowing the players to continue their careers while awaiting the final ruling. However, legally, the case is still under review and the risk of FIFA sanctions has not been ruled out.

The official also mentioned that without an official conclusion, it will be challenging for clubs or professional organizations to take the risk of signing long-term contracts with players who may face bans. He emphasized that if irregular naturalization cases are not properly addressed, it would be unfair to football associations that strictly comply with the rules, including Vietnam.

VFF affirms that Vietnamese football has consistently complied with FIFA and AFC regulations over time. The VFF representative believes that with steady progress and positive achievements in international tournaments, Vietnamese football has grounds to expect a fair, transparent, and rule-based decision from the authorities.

The second leg of the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers between Vietnam and Malaysia is scheduled for March 31. CAS is expected to issue its final ruling on the case involving the 7 Malaysian naturalized players before this date. VFF confirms it will continue to await the final conclusion and respect any official decision from CAS.