Nepal Requests FIFA to Reverse Loss to Malaysia Over Ineligible Players

Nepal has lodged a protest with FIFA seeking to nullify their 2-0 loss against Malaysia during the March 2027 Asian Cup qualifying matches, alleging that the opponents used a player who was not eligible.

In the previous month, FIFA, the global football authority, suspended seven Malaysia players of foreign origin for one year and imposed a $440000 fine on the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM), citing the submission of falsified documents related to their ancestry.

Among those seven, Hector Hevel netted Malaysia's first goal in the game held in Johor, Malaysia.

"We have contacted them about an ineligible player in that match. Therefore, the outcome must be reversed," stated Indra Man Tuladhar, the CEO of the All Nepal Football Association, to AFP. 

FIFA charged the FAM with providing altered or fake documents claiming the seven players possessed Malaysian roots, which qualified them to play for the nation. The FAM rejected any intentional misconduct.

According to FIFA, their probe revealed that none of the players truly had a parent or grandparent originating from the Southeast Asian country.

All seven of the suspended players participated in Malaysia's 4-0 victory over Vietnam in the Asian Cup qualifiers during June.

Nepal sits at the foot of Group F in the Asian Cup qualifiers, having garnered zero points from four matches. 

Malaysia leads with 12 points, followed by Vietnam in second place with nine points, and Laos in third with three.