La Liga club removes Malaysian naturalized player illegally registered

Deportivo Alaves has officially confirmed receiving a sanction from FIFA related to defender Facundo Garces.

According to FIFA’s Disciplinary Committee decision, the Malaysian player will be temporarily banned from playing, starting with the match against RCD Mallorca in LaLiga Round 7. This is a significant loss for the Basque team as Garces has been a key player since the start of the season.

In an official statement on their website, Alaves confirmed: “We have received the official notification of the sanction from FIFA. Therefore, Facundo Garces will be unable to participate in the match against Mallorca. The club respects all regulations and hopes the resolution process will be swift.” It is rare for a key player to be suddenly banned right before an important match, leaving the coaching staff unprepared.

Garces joined Alaves earlier this year and quickly secured his place in defense, playing every match since the start of LaLiga. The 26-year-old center-back is a crucial link maintaining the team's stability, so his absence forces coach Eduardo Coudet to adjust the tactical formation when hosting Mallorca. This match is important as Alaves aims to earn points to improve their standing after a decent start to the season.

According to local media, the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) has stepped in and is preparing an appeal dossier to submit to FIFA within the next 10 days. Alaves hopes this process will clear Garces' name and allow him to return to play soon, avoiding disruption to both the player’s form and the team’s personnel planning.

The unexpected sanction shocked many Alaves and Malaysian fans. On social media, numerous messages of support were sent to Garces, expressing hope that the matter will be resolved transparently so the Argentine-born defender can continue contributing to the club. Clearly, this case has become a focal point of regional football attention in the coming days.