A slip of the tongue reveals Malaysia's illegal naturalization secret

Before FIFA handed down a stunning penalty to the Football Association of Malaysia, naturalized center-back Facundo Garces accidentally sparked debate by disclosing sensitive information about his family origins during an interview.

In August, during an interview with the Spanish newspaper El Correo, Garces stated he qualified to represent Malaysia thanks to his "great-grandfather." This statement immediately raised doubts because FIFA regulations only allow players to represent another country if their parents or grandparents were born there, or if they have lived continuously in that country for at least five years after turning 18. Relying on a "great-grandfather" is not valid.

This slip caused public suspicion about Garces’ naturalization process and raised questions about the transparency of the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM). Under pressure, Garces quickly clarified that it was a translation error and confirmed his actual connection comes from his grandparents. “Thanks to my grandfather. I am honored to wear the Malaysian national team jersey. See you all soon,”the 26-year-old defender wrote on social media.

However, the clarification did not quell suspicions. On September 26, FIFA officially announced a severe penalty: FAM along with seven naturalized players, including Garces, were found to have used forged documents to legitimize their playing status. All these players received a one-year ban, and FAM faces a serious crisis.

Facundo Garces is originally a product of Colon’s youth academy (Argentina), having played 129 matches from 2020 to 2024 before signing a three-and-a-half-year contract with Deportivo Alavés. This La Liga season, he has played full 90 minutes in six games, helping Alavés sit mid-table. But FIFA’s sanction means the Spanish club will lose a key player for the next 12 months.

Before the scandal broke, Garces debuted for Malaysia in June 2025, when the team defeated Vietnam 4-0 in the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers. Coach Peter Cklamovski praised the Argentine defender for his composure and high-level experience. But everything changed after one careless remark turned him from a hopeful asset into the center of a crisis.

Now, Garces’ “slip of the tongue” is seen as the starting point for FIFA’s investigation, plunging Malaysian football into its toughest situation in years. Not only is the national team directly affected, but several European clubs, including Alavés, suffer from losing naturalized players who are banned. This will be a long-lasting incident, as trust in the transparency of Malaysian football faces an unprecedented challenge.

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