Alaves coach makes blunt statement about Malaysia's illegally naturalized star

Deportivo Alaves coach admits he has no information on defender Facundo Garces, who was recently banned by FIFA for 12 months due to involvement in fraudulent Malaysian naturalization documents.

The case of Malaysian-naturalized defender Facundo Garces continues to draw attention in Spain as Deportivo Alaves coach Eduardo Coudet acknowledges he does not know the whereabouts of the player after FIFA imposed a 12-month ban for falsifying naturalization papers.

In an interview with Futbol Fantasy, Coach Coudet stated: “At the moment, I have no new information. Whatever happens, the club management surely has a clearer picture. As for Garces, I don’t know where he is because we haven’t spoken recently.”

According to FIFA’s findings, seven players and the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) were found to have violated rules by using forged documents during the citizenship application process. The world football governing body issued strict penalties: a 12-month ban from all competitions and fines for those involved.

Immediately after receiving the official notice, Alaves issued two consecutive statements to clarify their stance. The Spanish club confirmed they would exclude Garces from the La Liga Round 7 match against Mallorca. Subsequently, the Basque team announced a temporary suspension of the Malaysian-naturalized player until the legal investigation concludes.

“We respect all FIFA decisions and always uphold the presumption of innocence. Alaves hopes the matter will be resolved transparently and swiftly,” the club’s statement read.

Facundo Garces joined Alaves in early 2025 after impressing in the Malaysian Super League. He obtained Malaysian citizenship in June 2025 and was immediately registered by FAM for the national team. However, after a complaint was filed, FIFA investigated and discovered that Garces’ grandmother was not actually born in Malaysia, rendering his naturalization documents fraudulent.

The incident has put heavy pressure on FAM, severely damaging the image of Malaysian football internationally. Meanwhile, Alaves must reconsider their defensive lineup after losing a key center-back mid-season.