Unexpected and highly confusing details about the Malaysian naturalization case

The La Liga system has disclosed unexpected details about Facundo Garces’ nationality, the player who was naturalized and represented Malaysia internationally.

According to official data from the Alaves club, Facundo Garces, who has appeared for the Malaysian national team, is still registered in the Spanish system as holding Argentine nationality. This information immediately raised doubts about the transparency of the 26-year-old player’s naturalization process.

Fans were even more shocked as Garces had officially played for Malaysia in international matches and was once expected to become a future key player for the country’s football. However, La Liga’s data continuously listed him as an Argentine citizen. By regulation, clubs are notified when their players are called up to national teams, making this information even harder to explain.

The conflicting data sources raise concerns about potential violations of FIFA’s strict rules regarding nationality changes and eligibility to represent a national team.

Under pressure from the media and football authorities, Deportivo Alaves recently announced an indefinite suspension of Garces. This move highlights the seriousness of the case, where even a minor error in naturalization documentation can lead to significant consequences for both the player and the club.

Furthermore, Garces unexpectedly removed the Malaysian flag from his personal social media accounts, fueling further public suspicion. Many Malaysian fans viewed this action as a sign that the Argentine-born player might be turning his back on Malaysian football following the scandal.

The situation grew even more perplexing after FIFA’s sanction was issued. While Garces removed the Malaysian flag, La Liga organizers updated his official nationality to Malaysian, underscoring the complexity of the case.

Garces joined Deportivo Alaves earlier this year and quickly became one of the key defensive players. He played consistently from the start of the season, helping Alaves maintain stability and achieve an impressive start in La Liga. Therefore, the nationality issue not only caused legal shockwaves but also directly impacted the Basque club’s tactical plans.

From a professional standpoint, Garces’ absence will force Deportivo Alaves to adjust their tactical formation in the near future.

The Garces case is not only an internal challenge for Alaves but has also become a hot topic internationally, prompting FIFA to impose strict penalties to ensure fairness and transparency in world football.

Related articles

Indonesia responds to rumors of 'accusing' Malaysia to FIFA The president of the Indonesian Football Association (PSSI), Erick Thohir, denied allegations that Indonesia interfered with FIFA’s sanctions against the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM). See more