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"The Asian Football Confederation has received confirmation
from the Ministry of Justice of the Democratic Republic of
Timor-Leste that Timor-Leste passports held by nine footballers
have been declared 'null and void'," an AFC statement said.
"The players... are not permitted to be registered in any
competition either as Timor-Leste citizens or utilising
Timor-Leste passports bearing their name."
All nine men were born in Brazil and include midfielder Diogo
Santos Rangel, who played club football for Thailand's Songkhla
United last season, and Patrick Fabiano Alves Nobrega Luz,
currently on the books of Kuwait's Kazma Sports Club.
Fellipe Bertoldo Dos Santos, Ramon Saro, Jairo Pinheiro Palmeira
Neto, Junior Aparecido Guimaro De Souza, Paulo Cesar Da Silva
Martins, Paulo Helber Rosa Ribeiro and Rodrigo Sousa Silva
complete the group.
The AFC previously announced that East Timor had been expelled
from the 2023 Asian Cup for falsifying documents after launching
a probe, in conjunction with FIFA, in June last year into the
players' eligibility.
The nine participated in a total of 29 matches in AFC events and
seven matches falling under the jurisdiction of FIFA. East Timor
forfeited all 29 matches played under AFC, which also issued a
suspended fine of $56,000.
The country's football federation was also fined $20,000, while
the AFC disciplinary committee ordered a three-year ban on
general secretary Amandio de Araujo Sarmento. (Reporting by
Michael Church; Editing by John O'Brien)
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