Nepal has officially appealed to FIFA, seeking to overturn their 2-0 loss to Malaysia during the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers held in March, claiming Malaysia fielded an ineligible player.
The controversy arises after FIFA’s decision last month to ban seven Malaysian foreign-born players for a year and impose a fine of US$440,000 (RM1.8 million) on the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM). The governing body alleged that forged ancestry documents were used to make these players eligible to represent Malaysia.
Among those players, Hector Hevel, who scored the opening goal against Nepal in Johor, is at the center of the dispute.
“All Nepal Football Association has reached out regarding the use of an ineligible player in the match. Thus, the result has to be overturned,” stated Indra Man Tuladhar, CEO of the All Nepal Football Association, in a statement to AFP.
FIFA’s findings claimed that none of the seven players had legitimate ancestral links—no parent or grandparent born in Malaysia—contradicting the submitted documentation. FAM, however, has denied any wrongdoing and insists it acted in good faith throughout the process.
These seven players were also involved in Malaysia’s 4-0 win over Vietnam in June’s Asian Cup qualifiers, intensifying scrutiny over the team’s recent successes.
As it stands, Malaysia leads Group F with 12 points, followed by Vietnam with nine, Laos with three, and Nepal at the bottom with zero.
This case highlights the growing tension in international football over eligibility and heritage-based representation—a reminder that even victories can be shadowed by controversy. Ultimately, the situation calls for transparency, accountability, and fair play—values that define the true spirit of the game.
