Malaysia faces penalties; Nguyen Filip returns soon.
The Football Association of Malaysia is accused of falsifying the records of 7 players, risking a 0-3 forfeit loss in two matches of the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers; Nguyen Filip is expected to return after 2 weeks. The V-League witnessed tense moments and heavy rain at Hang Day Stadium.
The highlights of the past 24 hours in Vietnamese football revolve around two major themes: allegations of naturalization fraud that put Malaysia at risk of sanctions from the AFC and FIFA, and positive news for Hanoi Police as goalkeeper Nguyen Filip is expected to return sooner than anticipated.
Malaysia accused of citizenship fraud: risk of a 0-3 forfeit loss.
The Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) is accused of falsifying documents for seven naturalized players. According to the New Straits Times, if FAM's appeal is rejected, Malaysia will almost certainly be handed a 0-3 defeat in the two 2027 Asian Cup qualifying matches in which these players participated: a 2-0 win against Nepal and a 4-0 win against Vietnam.
The final decisions are pending investigation and judgment from FIFA and AFC. The incident could directly impact the match results and the standings of Malaysia in their group in the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers.
V-League in the rain: Hanoi Police's victory and necessary adjustments.
At Hang Day Stadium, Hanoi Police defeated PVF-CAND in 90 minutes hampered by heavy rain. The slippery pitch and wet ball forced both teams to shorten their attacking plays, minimize risks in the midfield, and prioritize first-touch ball possession.
After the match, striker Nguyen Dinh Bac said: “Of course, I am very happy that the whole team overcame a difficult match. In my opinion, every match for CAHN this season has been challenging. Today, we fought hard and the important thing is to win all three points.”
Nguyen Filip could return in two weeks.
Goalkeeper Nguyen Filip has suffered a recurrence of his groin injury, initially predicted to be out for about two months. However, a new update indicates he only needs about two weeks to fully recover, and is expected to miss the next three matches for Hanoi Police.
Nam Dinh remains a contender, according to coach Le Quang Trai.
Following the draw between Nam Dinh and Hoang Anh Gia Lai, coach Le Quang Trai praised the opponent's competitiveness: "Nam Dinh is a championship contender; they are very strong. Although they are currently in the middle of the table, playing against them is extremely difficult. Getting points against Nam Dinh is not easy at all, so I am satisfied with the one point we got in this match."
From a professional standpoint, Nam Dinh continues to demonstrate its ability to maintain a low defensive line when needed and its readiness to quickly switch tactics – a key factor in their title race even during periods of inconsistent form.
The collision caused Trong Hoang to tear his earlobe.
Midway through the second half of the Hanoi vs. Ha Tinh match, while attempting to shield the ball on the slippery pitch, Trong Hoang fell first. In the rush forward, Do Hoang Hen – the newly naturalized midfielder of the capital's team – lost his balance and collided with Trong Hoang, causing two deep lacerations on his left earlobe, covering nearly two-thirds of the ear.
The situation illustrates the high level of risk involved in speed challenges in bad weather conditions, where a player's ability to brake and change direction is significantly limited.
Peter Makrillos: “V-League plays more directly and aggressively.”
After two months playing for Ho Chi Minh City Police FC, midfielder Peter Makrillos commented: “It’s very different. This league plays more directly and aggressively than the leagues I’ve played in before.”
From a tactical perspective, a direct style of play requires midfielders like Makrillos to shorten their touch, be ready to escape pressing with one-touch decisions, and accept a larger range of activity in transitional defense.
Facundo Garces files: documents from Argentina
On October 30th, the Argentine newspaper Capital de Noticias published the original birth certificate of Carlos Rogelio Fernandez, Facundo Garces' grandfather. Documents from the Santa Fe Provincial Civil Registry indicate that Fernandez was born in Villa Maria Selva, Argentina, to Sebastiana Justa Fernandez, an Argentinian residing in the same area – a detail considered crucial evidence that the player has no connection to Malaysia.
The aforementioned data further adds legal insight into debates regarding player eligibility, a topic of particular interest following allegations involving FAM.
