CAS issues a warning about 7 Malaysian naturalized players being 'invalid'

Facundo Garces, a naturalized player reportedly representing Malaysia, resumed playing for Alavés in Spain's La Liga, yet promptly received a warning from CAS.

According to the New Straits Times, CAS confirmed that FIFA's temporary suspension of the ban on Malaysian naturalized players is not the final ruling. This statement was made by Vanessa Tracey, CAS’s communications officer, after the suspected “fake naturalized” player continued to appear in matches for his club.

Vanessa stated that the suspension of the penalty is only a provisional measure pending a full hearing. Vanessa Tracey said: “In this case, CAS has implemented an interim measure concerning the suspension of the players' bans. This means that the suspension has been legally postponed or temporarily lifted until a final decision is reached.”

The announcement confirms that although the players are currently allowed to compete, the core legal issue remains unresolved. At present, several clubs are fielding newly joined players, including Facundo Garces, who recently made his first appearance of 2026 with Alavés in La Liga.

However, clubs still face legal risks if the final CAS ruling is unfavorable to these players. Notably, this risk applies to all competitions organized by FIFA, including both domestic and international tournaments.

The New Straits Times wrote: “Article 19 stipulates that if a player is ineligible to participate in an official match, the offending team will forfeit 0-3, unless the original result was worse. These rules apply to all FIFA-organized competitions, including domestic leagues and continental tournaments. The suspension issued on January 26 does not determine the final legal outcome of the case.”

Similarly, Datuk Seri Windsor John, AFC Secretary General, emphasized that the potential risk lies with the clubs. This could happen if they deliberately continue to use the Malaysian naturalized players suspected of being “invalid” while the ban is temporarily suspended during the appeal process.

Windsor John stressed: “They may play under CAS’s decision, but since we do not have full details, there is always a risk regarding how the final ruling will be interpreted. Responsibility always rests with the clubs and players. The organizers do not bear this risk.”

Not only in Europe, but in Southeast Asia, Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) has also fielded three Malaysian-origin players suspected of invalid naturalization. Specifically, Joao Figueiredo, Jon Irazabal, and Hector Hevel, all three played in the ASEAN Club Championship match against Shan United (Myanmar), helping JDT secure a 3-0 victory.