KUALA LUMPUR: The national football squad’s desire to obtain the services of Go Ahead Eagles player Mats Deijl will not materialise after the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) confirmed that the Dutch player did not pass the eligibility requirements.
This was confirmed by the International Football Federation (FIFA) yesterday.
The FAM explained that based on the attached documentation, the player only has Malaysian blood through his ancestors and not through his grandparents as stipulated in the FIFA conditions.
“FAM were able to officially contact the club, the agent and the player himself to discuss his eligibility to play with the Malaysian national team.
“As a result of the discussion, this player provided documents related to his family lineage which show that he has a connection with the country of Malaysia including his birth certificate, his father, his grandfather (father’s side) as well as the confirmation of the birth of his ancestor (father’s side), which is his grandfather’s mother.
“Based on the review, this player has Malaysian blood through an ancestor (mother of the player’s grandfather) who was born in Singapore on June 24, 1893.
Singapore was part of Malaya at that time,” FAM said.
The FAM then sent a letter to FIFA to get their opinion on the status of this player who wants to represent Malaysia through the blood of his ancestors (the player’s mother and grandfather).
“FIFA sent feedback on this matter and informed that: ‘Unfortunately, the player’s ascendants’ nationalities beyond his grandparents (i.e., the player’s great grandparents or ulterior ascendants) do not grant the player the possibility to be eligible to represent your association’s representative team.
“Based on FIFA’s answer, FAM confirmed that this player cannot represent the Malaysian national team due to the fact that his Malaysian blood is from his ancestors (mother to grandfather of the player) and not at the level of the player’s grandfather or grandmother as stipulated by FIFA.
“FAM are still grateful to this player for the interest and determination shown by him to represent the Malaysian national team.”
For the record, with reference to Article 8 of the regulations governing the application of the FIFA statutes related to eligibility to represent the national team, any player can represent a country if the player meets the following conditions:
*The player was born in the country involved or the player’s mother and father were born in the country involved.
*The player’s grandparents were born in the country involved or the player resided in the country for more than five years.
