News
Overseas Football Players who are eligible to Represent Sri Lanka
There are currently numerous players with strong Sri Lankan roots who play football in Overseas Leagues. Football Sri Lanka has kept a close eye on all these players, tracking their progress and skill levels to see which players can bring a positive impact to the Sri Lankan National Team
The following five players have already applied for dual citizenship and started the necessary processes of making it into the National squad, while the rest are yet to start any such procedures;
Players who are already applied for the Dual Citizenship to represent the National Team
- Hamilton O Mervyn

Age : 32 yrs. (DOB: 8 Oct 1988)
Height : 6’
Citizenship : British
Position : Midfield
Current club : Whitehawk FC
League : Whitehawk FC is a Semi Professional, non-league English football club based in Whitehawk, a suburb of the city of Brighton & Hove, East Sussex. Whitehawk FC play in the Isthmian South East Division (English non-league step 4 – Level 8)
Category : Sri Lankan Mother
2. Reef Sebastian Peries

Age : 19 yrs (DOB: 30 Oct. 2001)
Height : 5’ 11”
Citizenship : British
Position : Right Wing Back
Current club : Woking FC (Academy Team)
League : Woking Football Club is a semi-professional association football club, based in Woking, Surrey, England. Founded in 1889, the club plays its home matches at Kingfield Stadium and is nicknamed the Cardinals. Currently, they compete in the National League, the fifth tier of English football.
Category : Sri Lankan Grandparent
3. Ryan Anthony Peries

Age :18 yrs (DOB: 20 Jul 2002)
Height : 6’ 2”
Citizenship : British
Position : Midfield
Current club : Bournemouth University FC
Category : Sri Lankan Grandparent
4. Haneef Mohamed Haseef Mohamed

Age : 27 yrs (DOB: 23 Aug 1993)
Height : 5’ 6”
Citizenship : Switzerland
Position : Left / Right Winger, Attacking Midfielder
Current club : FC Engstringen
League : FC Engstringen plays in the Football Association of the Zurich Region FVRZ 3rd League of Swiss Football Association.
Category : Sri Lankan Father & Mother
5. Vigneswaran Dagsan

Age : 16 yrs (DOB: 02 May 2004)
Height : 6’
Citizenship : Switzerland
Position : Center Back / Midfielder
Current club : Lausanne Sport
League : FC Engstringen plays in the Football Association of the Zurich Region FVRZ 3rd League of Swiss Football Association.
Category : Sri Lankan Father & Mother
Players who are eligible to apply for the Dual Citizenship to represent the National Team
- Claudio Matthias

Age : 21 yrs (DOB: 7 July 1999)
Height : 6’ 1”
Citizenship : Deutsch (German)
Position : Center Back, Left Back, Right Back
Current club : SC Freiburg
League : Sport-Club Freiburg e.V., commonly known as SC Freiburg, is a German football club, based in the city of Freiburg im Breisgau, Baden-Württemberg. It plays in the Bundesliga. SC Freiburg II is the reserve team of German association football club SC Freiburg plays in the Regionalliga Südwest (English: Regional League Southwest) is the fourth tier of the German football league system in the states of Hesse, Baden-Württemberg, Rhineland-Palatinate, and Saarland. It is one of five leagues at this level, together with the Regionalliga Bayern, Regionalliga Nordost, Regionalliga Nord, and the Regionalliga West.
Category : Sri Lankan Mother
2. Canistan Regize

Age : 23 yrs (DOB: 25 Mar 1997)
Height : 5’ 7”
Citizenship : French
Position : Midfielder
Current club : FC Montceau, Boergogne
League : Football Club Montceau Bourgogne is a French association football team founded in 1948. They are based in Montceau-les-Mines, Bourgogne, France and are currently playing in the Championnat National 3. The league serves as the fifth division of the French Football League.
Category : Sri Lankan Father & Mother
3. Kelly Garrett Christopher

Age : 24 yrs (DOB: 13 Apr 1996)
Height : 6’ 1”
Citizenship : British
Position : Central Midfield
Current club : Almyros Gaziou FC (Greece)
League : Almyros Gaziou FC plays in the Gamma Ethniki the fourth highest football league in Greece.
Category : Sri Lankan Mother
4. Manimeldura Leon Perera

Age : 23 yrs (DOB: 1 Jan 1997)
Height : 5’ 8”
Citizenship : Deutsch (German)
Position : Central Midfield
Current club : MTV Treubund Lüneburg
League : MTV Treubund Lüneburg competes in the Landesliga Lüneburg, called the Bezirksoberliga Lüneburg from 1979 to 1994 and 2006 to 2010, is the sixth tier of the German football league system and the second-highest league in the German state of Lower Saxony.
Category : Sri Lankan Father
5. Tiffan Anthonypillai

Age : 18 yrs. (DOB: 21 Sep 2002)
Height : 5’ 7”
Citizenship : Canadian
Position : Right Back
Current club : Cs Saint-Laurent, Montréal,Canada
Category : Sri Lankan Mother
6. Chikereuba Tochokwu Francis

Age : 27 yrs (DOB: 24 Apr 1993)
Height : 6’ 3”
Citizenship : Nigerian
Position : Central Defender
Current club : Java Lane SC, Colombo
League : Champions League – Sri Lanka
Category : Sri Lankan Spouse & Children
7. Poopathithasan Nilooshan

Age : 19 yrs (DOB: 19 Jul 2001)
Height : TBC
Citizenship : Deutsch (German)
Position : TBC
Current club : TBC
Category : Sri Lankan Mother
Furthermore, Waseem Razeek and his brother Muzakir Razeek already eligible to represent the country.
Football
AIFF Faces FIFA, AFC Ban Threat as October 30 Deadline Looms
Indian football is staring at yet another international suspension as FIFA and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) have jointly warned the All India Football Federation (AIFF) to ratify its long-pending constitution by October 30, 2025, or risk a complete ban from world football.
In a strongly-worded two-page letter sent on Tuesday (August 26) to AIFF President Kalyan Chaubey, FIFA and AFC expressed “profound concern” over the failure to finalise and implement a revised constitution, a matter pending before India’s Supreme Court since 2017.
If suspended, India’s national teams and clubs would be barred from all international competitions, while the country’s ambitious 2036 Olympic Games bid in Ahmedabad could also be thrown into uncertainty.
FIFA & AFC Ultimatum
The letter, signed by FIFA’s Chief Member Associations Officer Elkhan Mammadov and AFC Deputy General Secretary Vahid Kardany, set out three urgent requirements for the AIFF:
1. Obtain a definitive Supreme Court order approving the revised constitution.
2. Ensure full compliance with FIFA and AFC statutes.
3. Formally ratify the constitution at the next AIFF General Meeting.
Failure to comply, they warned, would trigger sanctions, including full suspension of AIFF membership.
Previous Suspension in 2022
This is not the first governance crisis to hit Indian football. In August 2022, FIFA suspended the AIFF for “third-party interference” after a court-appointed Committee of Administrators temporarily ran the federation. That ban lasted just two weeks, lifted only after fresh elections were held in which Kalyan Chaubey defeated football legend Bhaichung Bhutia.
Domestic Fallout – ISL in Crisis
The deadlock has already disrupted Indian football at the domestic level. The Indian Super League (ISL), India’s top-tier professional league, has been put “on hold” by Football Sports Development Limited (FSDL), the AIFF’s commercial partner, due to uncertainty over its Master Rights Agreement, which expires in December 2025.
At least three clubs have suspended operations or delayed salaries, while all 11 ISL clubs have warned of an “existential crisis.” Reports from FIFPRO further highlight cases of players’ contracts being terminated, leaving livelihoods at risk.
The Supreme Court of India will hear the matter again on August 28, a session that could determine the immediate future of the ISL and India’s football calendar.
What’s at Stake
If AIFF fails to meet the October deadline, India could lose:
• Participation in FIFA and AFC tournaments.
• Entry rights for national teams and clubs in international competitions.
• Momentum in its 2036 Olympics bid.
• Credibility with players, fans, and commercial partners.
For now, the football fraternity in India waits anxiously for the Supreme Court’s verdict and AIFF’s ability to steer through yet another governance storm
Football
Heritage Derby Trophy Goes to Hameed Al Husseinie College
Colombo – Hameed Al Husseinie College emerged victorious in the prestigious Heritage Derby Trophy football encounter against Zahira College, Maradana, securing a 3–1 win at the Colombo Racecourse grounds yesterday.
The match kicked off under the patronage of Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, adding special significance to this annual football rivalry.
Hameed Al Husseinie College took control early, leading 2–0 at halftime before sealing the victory with a third goal in the second half. Zahira College managed to pull one back, but it was not enough to challenge the dominant performance of the winners.
The trophy presentation was held soon after the final whistle, with the principals of both schools — Rizvi Marikkar of Zahira College and Mrs. Dain of Hameed Al Husseinie College — present to witness the celebrations.
This latest victory adds another chapter to the rich history of the Heritage Derby, further cementing Hameed Al Husseinie College’s reputation in school football.
Football
Exclusive: AFC Fines Sri Lankan Footballer Over “Free Palestine” Message
Colombo – June 13
Sri Lankan national footballer Mohamed Thilham, who recently made headlines after displaying a “PRAY FOR FREE PALESTINE” message on his undershirt during post-match celebrations, has now been officially penalized by international football authorities.
Following Sri Lanka’s 3-1 victory over Chinese Taipei in the AFC Asian Cup 2027 Qualifiers on June 10 at the Colombo Racecourse Stadium, Thilham—a non-playing substitute—unveiled the message, drawing both praise and criticism from various quarters.

⚠️ AFC Sanctions Player with USD 2,000 Fine
FIFA, in coordination with the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), has now issued a formal disciplinary notice to the player, imposing a USD 2,000 fine. This letter, according to sources within the Football Federation of Sri Lanka (FFSL), was sent addressing to Thilham, underscoring AFC stance on politically charged expressions at official matches.
According to FIFA’s Disciplinary Code, players are prohibited from displaying political, religious, or personal slogans during matches or official ceremonies. While Thilham’s gesture occurred after the final whistle, FIFA and AFC treat any action within the stadium environment as part of official conduct.
⚽ FFSL Under Scrutiny for Disciplinary Action
FFSL President Jaswar Umar previously stated that the act “was not authorized by the federation” and “violates international football disciplinary norms.” He also confirmed that the FFSL would take internal disciplinary action against the player.
However, this incident has reignited public debate over the role of athletes in social advocacy and the limits imposed by international sports law. While some supporters see Thilham’s actions as courageous and morally driven, others have raised concerns about the player’s career stability and future opportunities under increasing scrutiny.
📝 Editorial Insight
At Sri Lankan Sports TV, we initially chose to withhold the content of the message in our match coverage—out of responsibility to the player’s career and to respect global sports protocol. However, the message went viral after several social media users circulated the full image, seemingly with the intention of sparking controversy.
The resulting spotlight has unfortunately led to a formal penalty, underscoring the real-world consequences that athletes may face when international regulations intersect with personal conviction.
-
Live4 years ago
Live Broadcast of Syria vs Sri Lanka | AFC U23 Asian Championship Qualification
-
Football7 months ago
Sri Lanka Schools National Championship 2025: Super 8 Fixtures and Grouping
-
News8 months ago
2025 Schools Rugby Season Set to Thrill Fans with Knockout and League Action
-
Cricket4 months ago
Nuwan Thushara Shines as RCB Storms into IPL 2025 Final
-
Football8 months ago
FFSL Rebrands Division-1 as ‘League-One’ with a Bold New Vision
-
News4 months ago
Major Shake-Up in Sports Governance: New 2025 Regulations Reform National Sports Bodies in Sri Lanka
-
Football5 months ago
Sri Lanka Announces U19 Football Squad for SAFF Championship 2025
-
Football7 months ago
Sri Lanka Schools National Championship 2024: Super Eight Round Concludes – Semifinalists Confirmed!