Spanish club files complaint as FIFA bans Malaysia's naturalized player in 'global scandal'

The ban, part of a FIFA ruling against seven naturalized Malaysian players, prevents Garces from playing at both international and club level, forcing Alaves to remove him from their squad right before their La Liga match against Mallorca on Saturday night.

FIFA on Friday announced the suspension of seven players who represented Malaysia in the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers in June, where they beat Vietnam 4-0. Alongside Garces, other suspended players are Jon Irazabal, Hector Hevel, Joao Figueiredo, Rodrigo Holgado, Imanol Machuca and Gabriel Palmero.

FIFA stated that the original documents allowing these players to represent Malaysia had been falsified.

According to Marca, Alaves was shocked by the news, as Garces, 26, had played the full 90 minutes in each of the six La Liga matches this season prior to the suspension. Coach Eduardo Coudet had no choice but to exclude him from the squad following FIFA's ruling.

Facundo Garces in Malaysia national football team's jersey. Photo by Instagram/@facundogarces

The Football Association of Malaysia affirmed that it "acted in good faith with full transparency" when registering the naturalized players, and noted that FIFA had previously approved their eligibility. FAM plans to appeal and coordinate with affected clubs to protect the rights of players, according to The Star.

Among the seven banned players, the three Argentine-born athletes, Garces (Alaves, Spain), Machuca (Velez Sarsfield, Argentina), and Holgado (America de Cali, Colombia), have attracted significant media attention. Holgado, who previously played for Coquimbo Unido and Audax Italiano in Chile, scored in Malaysia’s 4-0 win over Vietnam. Machuca remains a key player for Velez, while Garces has been a defensive backbone for Alaves.

Media outlets in Argentina, Chile, Colombia and Spain have reported extensively on the sanctions, describing the incident as a "global scandal."

The suspension affected not only the Malaysia national team but also multiple clubs across three continents. Alaves lost their key defender in La Liga, Velez must adjust their squad mid-season, and America de Cali face potential complications for Holgado, who is under contract until 2026.

Colombian newspaper El Tiempo highlighted that the clubs are likely to appeal FIFA’s decision, though the ban remains in immediate effect.

Malaysia’s 2027 Asian Cup qualifying campaign is also at risk. Under AFC regulations, the use of even one ineligible player could result in a 0-3 forfeit, and with seven players affected, the team could face severe consequences.

Marca reporter Ander Barroso commented: "The incident is not only a scandal for Malaysia but also a global warning. All federations need to ensure transparency, or shocking news like this will continue to repeat."

The seven banned players now have 10 days to request FIFA to publish the detailed decision, which would provide a basis for appealing to the FIFA Appeals Committee, although historical precedent suggests a low chance of overturning the sanctions.