AFC denies having imposed sanctions on the Malaysian national team; What must Vietnam U23 do to make a breakthrough at the U23 Asian Championship?

The AFC denies having imposed any sanctions on the Malaysian national team in the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers.

The AFC denies having imposed any sanctions on the Malaysian national team in the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers.

The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has confirmed that it has not yet made any decision regarding the eligibility of the Malaysian national team (Harimau Malaya) to compete in the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers.

AFC Secretary General Datuk Seri Windsor Paul John has denied reports from some news outlets claiming that Malaysia had been punished by the AFC in a manner similar to FIFA's disciplinary action for using ineligible players in previous matches.

"That's not true. We haven't made any decisions at this time," Mr. Windsor briefly told BH Sukan.

Previously, AFC leaders had also stated that the organization had not yet reached an official conclusion, and added that the AFC would await the ruling from the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) before considering further steps.

"Yes, we are currently awaiting the CAS decision. The FIFA decision has just been issued, so the AFC needs time to review it," Windsor said.

What's happening to Kubo?

Take Kubo's fourth season at Real Sociedad is proving to be the most challenging since he arrived in San Sebastián in 2022.

The numbers don't lie. After 17 rounds of La Liga, Kubo has only two goals and one assist. His last goal against Girona in round 16 was quite a while ago, which is unrealistic for a player considered the creative force behind the team.

Kubo's difficulties were closely tied to that turmoil. An ankle injury from September plagued him for months. In an effort to help his team, the Japanese striker pushed himself beyond his limits. He had to receive injections continuously for a month to play, but in return, his performance was incomplete. His speed and dribbling skills, qualities that once made Anoeta so vibrant, were stifled. Kubo still ran, still looked for space, but his legs no longer obeyed him as before.

Currently, Kubo still says he is committed to Real Sociedad. But the phrase "nobody knows what the future holds" is enough to understand that all doors are still open. For him, the rest of the season is a race against himself: a race against injury, against doubt, and against a team that is losing its way.

If Kubo can rediscover his former agility, Real Sociedad could salvage a dismal season. Otherwise, next summer could very well mark a major turning point in the Japanese star's career – a turning point born from a draining season.

MU is facing a squad crisis.

CaptainManchester United's Bruno Fernandes has suffered a hamstring injury and is expected to miss up to six important matches. This is also the first time since joining Old Trafford that Fernandes has been sidelined for an extended period due to injury.

According to The Sun, the Portuguese international will miss the Premier League matches against Newcastle, Wolves, Leeds, and Burnley, the FA Cup against Brighton, and especially the Manchester derby on January 17th. The match against Arsenal on January 25th could be the earliest he returns.

Manchester United's crisis is further exacerbated by Kobbie Mainoo's absence due to a calf injury. Manager Amorim now only has two genuine central midfield options: Casemiro and Manuel Ugarte, a player who has cost MU dearly in all four of their starts this season. Meanwhile, Mason Mount's fitness remains a major question mark.

Vietnam U23: Forget the glory of the SEA Games and focus on making a breakthrough at the U23 Asian Championship.

Coach Kim Sang Sik and the Vietnam U23 team need to make major changes in their approach and operations if they want to succeed in the upcoming AFC U23 Asian Championship.

The Vietnam U23 team easily controlled the game, choosing their own tempo, but this certainly wouldn't happen in a continental competition against a stronger team. Coach Kim Sang Sik's team naturally faces opponents with greater strength and a stronger pressing ability.

At that time, the biggest challenge was not just physical fitness, but also the mindset of playing football. If they maintained the same dominant approach as when they played in regional tournaments, but lacked high-impact, effective attacking moves, the Vietnam U23 team would be very vulnerable to counter-attacks.

At this point, the issue of defensive quality also comes to mind. The U23 Vietnam defense showed good initiative when not in possession, however, their ability to link up and support each other was not considered perfect.

Furthermore, squad depth is a major question mark. Coach Kim Sang Sik tends to stick with a successful core team, but continental competitions require the South Korean strategist to know how to rotate players and adjust tactics more flexibly.

If backup options are not given a chance and tested early on, the Vietnam U23 team will lack choices (especially in defense) when the match doesn't go as planned.