Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has delivered a hammer blow to Vietnamese giants Cong An Hanoi, officially overturning their 4-0 first-leg victory against Tampines Rovers into a 3-0 forfeit defeat.
The bombshell decision comes after the AFC Disciplinary and Ethics Committee found CAHN FC guilty of fielding two ineligible players during the AFC Champions League Two (ACL2) Round of 16 clash on February 11, 2026.
The “Defendant,” CAHN FC, was found to have breached Article 56 of the AFC Disciplinary and Ethics Code by fielding Rogerio Alves Dos Santos (China) and Stefan Mauk.
Both players had accumulated three yellow cards during the group stage, triggering an automatic one-match suspension. By failing to monitor these bans, CAHN FC ignored their “obligations to ensure all players fielded are eligible,” leading to a catastrophic regulatory collapse.
The penalty is one of the most severe administrative punishments seen in recent Southeast Asian club history:
- Match Forfeiture: The 4-0 win is annulled. Tampines Rovers are awarded a 3-0 victory.
- Heavy Fine: CAHN FC must pay USD 2,000 within 30 days.
- Financial Clawback: The AFC has withheld 50% of the club’s participation fee, amounting to USD 40,000. If already paid, the club must return the funds.
- Suspension Cleared: For the sake of the next leg, both Rogerio and Mauk are “deemed to have served” their suspension during the forfeited match.
The second leg at the Jalan Besar Stadium on February 18 now takes on a completely different complexion. Tampines Rovers, who were effectively “dead and buried” after the first leg, now hold a massive 3-0 aggregate lead without kicking a ball in the return fixture.
Credit Photo : AFC
