KUALA LUMPUR: Dutch footballer Mat Deijl won't be able to play for Malaysia, according to Fifa rules.
Deijl, who plays for Go Ahead Eagles, had expressed interest in joining Harimau Malaya based on his ancestry, but it was found that his Malaysian heritage is through his great-grandparents, not through his grandparents as stipulated by Fifa.
FAM conducted a verification process and reached out to the club and the player since June 27. However, the information provided did not meet the eligibility criteria outlined in Article 8 of the Fifa Regulations.
On Sept 25, Fifa confirmed that only descent from grandparents can qualify a player to represent a country.
"FAM appreciates Deijl's interest and the efforts he has shown, but must accept Fifa's decision," said FAM in a statement today.