Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) has confirmed that Mats Deijl, a player from the Go Ahead Eagles in the Netherlands, has been ruled ineligible to join the Malaysia national team.
This decision comes after the International Football Federation (FIFA) reviewed his eligibility and found that he does not meet the specific criteria needed to represent Malaysia under FIFA’s regulations.
The 27-year-old player had expressed his desire to represent the Malaysian national team, with FAM having been informed that he has Malaysian ancestry. However, upon further investigation and document submissions, it was revealed that Deijl’s Malaysian heritage comes through his ancestors and not his grandparents, as required by FIFA regulations.
FAM had initiated contact with Deijl, his club, and his agent on June 27, 2024, to discuss the possibility of him joining the national team. The player provided various family documents, including his birth certificate and those of his father and grandfather. Additionally, Deijl’s ancestral lineage traced back to June 24, 1893, when his great-grandmother was born in Singapore, which at the time was part of Malaya.
However, according to Article 8 of the FIFA Regulations Governing the Application of Statutes, a player can only represent a country if:
1. The player was born in that country.
2. The player’s mother or father was born in that country.
3. The player’s grandparents were born in that country.
4. The player has resided in that country for more than five years.
FAM sought FIFA’s opinion on Deijl’s eligibility, particularly regarding his lineage, on September 23, 2024. FIFA’s response, received on September 25, 2024, made it clear that Deijl did not meet the eligibility requirements. The governing body stated 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(s), as the list set forth in art. 1 c) of the RGAS is exhaustive.”
As a result, Deijl cannot represent the Malaysian national team because his Malaysian bloodline does not extend to his grandparents, as stipulated by FIFA rules.
FAM expressed its gratitude to Mats Deijl for his interest in representing Malaysia but acknowledged that the opportunity could not be realized. Additionally, FAM continues to explore other potential players with Malaysian ancestry but has faced challenges in meeting FIFA’s strict eligibility criteria.
This situation underscores the complexity of international football regulations and the strict requirements set forth by FIFA for players representing national teams based on heritage.
Credit Photo : GAE
