Naturalized Malaysian star clarifies his origins

Facundo Garces, who recently gained Malaysian citizenship, quickly spoke out to clarify matters regarding his eligibility for the Malaysian national squad.

Center-back Facundo Garces, who played a key role in Malaysia’s victory over Vietnam during the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers, has become the center of attention following conflicting reports about his naturalization process and heritage.

In recent days, Southeast Asian media have questioned the legality of Garces’s eligibility to play for Malaysia. The controversy stemmed from an interview published in El Correo (Spain), where the defender reportedly revealed that his Malaysian roots trace back only to his great-grandparent. This sparked debate because, according to FIFA regulations, a player must have a direct bloodline connection to a grandparent to represent a national team, not merely through a great-grandparent.

During the interview, Garces stated: “Thanks to my great-grandfather, I learned about my family’s background, but I never imagined I’d have the chance to wear the national jersey. They told me about an exciting football project, which truly inspired me.” This statement immediately fueled speculation that the defender, born in 1999, might not meet the requirements to represent Malaysia.

However, Facundo Garces quickly clarified the situation. On his personal account, he asserted that it was merely a reporting error by the journalist. He wrote: “It was just a reporting mistake. I am Malaysian through my grandparents, and I feel deeply honored to wear the national colors. See you soon.”

With this statement, Garces put an end to all speculation and confirmed that he fully meets FIFA’s requirements to play for Malaysia. As a result, Garces is now firmly part of coach Peter Cklamovski’s long-term plans.

Previously, according to Info Bae (Argentina) and El Correo Alaves (Spain), Garces had admitted to having Malaysian ancestry. However, confusion between great-grandparent and grandparent inadvertently drew him into controversy.

Garces’s timely clarification not only dispelled doubts about his eligibility, but also strengthened the confidence of Malaysian fans who hope that naturalized players will help elevate the national team in the future.