Spanish clubs cut ties with player suspended in Malaysia naturalization scandal

Palmero becomes the first among the seven players to be left without a club.

Both Spanish third-division side Unionistas de Salamanca and his parent club Club Deportivo Tenerife confirmed the termination of his loan and permanent contracts.

"Unionistas de Salamanca have reached an agreement with Club Deportivo Tenerife to terminate the loan of Gabriel Palmero, following notification from FIFA on Sept. 25 and the rejection of the player's appeal on Nov. 3," Unionistas de Salamanca said in an official statement on Nov. 7, as reported by The Star.

Unionistas, which had signed Palmero on loan for the 2025–2026 season, added that the termination "entailed no financial cost for the club," and thanked the player "for his dedication" during his brief spell.

Tenerife also confirmed on its official X account that both the loan deal and Palmero’s contract had ended on Nov. 7, according to New Straits Times.

The club stated the termination was "immediate and permanent," adding that it was made "after careful consideration of the circumstances surrounding the player’s falsified documents."

Gabriel Palmero plays for Malaysia's national team. Photo by FAM

Born in La Palma, Spain, in 2002, Palmero—full name Gabriel Felipe Arrocha—is a product of the Las Palmas academy and has previously played for Tenisca, Gimnástica Segoviana, and Tenerife. His contract with Tenerife had been valid until June 30, 2027.

Known as a promising left-back with strong attacking play, the 23-year-old’s career was derailed after FIFA concluded that he and six other players had submitted forged documents to qualify for Malaysia’s national team.

The other players involved are Rodrigo Holgado, Facundo Garcés, Jon Irazabal, João Figueiredo, Héctor Hevel, and Imanol Machuca. All seven claimed Malaysian ancestry to obtain eligibility, but the documents were found to be fraudulent.

FIFA has since banned the players for 12 months and fined the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM).

FAM said it is awaiting FIFA’s detailed explanation before deciding its next steps, including whether to appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

The fake naturalization scandal has been described as the biggest controversy to hit Malaysian football in 2025, dealing a severe blow to the national team’s 2027 Asian Cup ambitions.

Palmero made four appearances for Malaysia, debuting in May 2025 against Cape Verde, where he was praised for his two-way play. But within months, his alleged "Malaysian grandmother" record—part of the falsified documents—was exposed, leading to his downfall.

Other players involved are also reportedly at risk of losing their club contracts. If their agreements include clauses for termination following a FIFA ban, their clubs will not be required to pay compensation.