KATHMANDU, Oct 16, 2025 BSS/AFP) - Nepal have appealed to FIFA to overturn 
their 2-0 defeat to Malaysia in 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers in March this year, 
claiming that their opponents fielded an ineligible player.

Last month, the world governing body FIFA banned seven Malaysian foreign-born 
players for a year and fined the FA of Malaysia (FAM) $440,000, saying they 
had submitted forged ancestry documents.

One of the seven, Hector Hevel, scored Malaysia's opening goal in the match 
played in Johor, Malaysia.

"We have reached out regarding an ineligible player in the match. Thus the 
result has to be overturned," Indra Man Tuladhar, CEO of All Nepal Football 
Association, told AFP.

FIFA accused the FAM of submitting doctored or false documents that said the 
seven players had Malaysian ancestry, making them eligible to represent the 
country. FAM denied knowingly doing anything wrong.

FIFA said an investigation showed that none of the players actually had a 
parent or grandparent born in the Southeast Asian nation.

The seven banned players had all played in Malaysia's 4-0 Asian Cup 
qualifying win against Vietnam in June.

Nepal are currently at the bottom of Asian Cup qualifying Group F with no 
points from four games.

Malaysia are top on 12 points, Vietnam are second on nine points with Laos 
third on three.