Naturalized Malaysian players have to 'pay the price' following severe sanctions from FIFA

Facundo Garces' market value has been cut in half, decreasing from 2 million Euros to 1 million Euros following a suspension and allegations of falsified documents.

The market value of Malaysia national team defender Facundo Garces has significantly declined after he and six other naturalized Malaysian players were sanctioned by FIFA for involvement in a document forgery scandal. According to international statistics site Transfermarkt, Garces is now valued at only 1 million Euros, down from 2 million Euros previously.

This drop is seen as a direct consequence of the punishment imposed by the World Football Federation late last month. Beyond the financial penalty, Garces has been temporarily suspended from playing for his club Deportivo Alaves in La Liga until the matter is resolved. At 26 years old, the Argentine-born player faces a challenging period in his career as both his market value and professional reputation have been severely affected.

Not only Garces, but six other naturalized players on the Malaysian team — Joao Figueiredo, Jon Irazabal, Hector Hevel, Gabriel Palmero, Rodrigo Holgado, and Imanol Machuca — have also been suspended. However, according to Transfermarkt, their market values remain unchanged, indicating that Garces has been the most heavily impacted.

Previously, the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) along with seven naturalized players were found by FIFA’s Disciplinary Committee to have violated Article 22 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code concerning document forgery. As a result, FAM was heavily fined, and each player received a global 12-month ban from competition.

These sanctions have not only damaged the image of Malaysian football but also severely affected the individual careers of the players, especially Garces. The sharp decline in his market value reflects international clubs’ increased caution when assessing his future prospects. Currently playing for Deportivo Alaves, his suspension further complicates his position, casting significant doubt on his future in La Liga.

In this context, the Football Association of Malaysia is awaiting full detailed documentation from FIFA before officially submitting an appeal. This is seen as the last chance for FAM and the players to reduce the severity of the penalties or shorten the suspension period.

This case continues to attract public attention, not only in Malaysia but internationally, raising many questions about the naturalization process for players and transparency in player registration. For Garces, his future now heavily depends on the outcome of the appeal and FIFA’s final decision.