7 Malaysian naturalized players change their lives after FIFA sanctions

The careers of seven so-called "fake" naturalized players of the Malaysian national team have been revived after previously being banned by FIFA for 12 months.

In September last year, Malaysian football was shaken when FIFA imposed a 12-month suspension on seven players of the Malaysian national team. Those players included: Gabriel Palmero, Facundo Garces, Rodrigo Holgado, Imanol Machuca, Joao Figueiredo, Jon Irazabal, and Hector Hevel.

They were found guilty of violating Article 22 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code related to document forgery. As a result, the market value of all 7 players dropped to zero. They were considered worthless as they were prohibited from participating in any football activities. This was a heavy blow to players who relied heavily on their reputation and performance on the professional field. However, everything changed when the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) decided to suspend FIFA’s sanctions at the end of last month.

This decision allowed them to return to play and temporarily lifted the 12-month suspension. The suspension will remain effective until CAS issues a final ruling on the appeal filed by the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM). This ruling not only revived the careers of the seven players but also restored the market value that had been wiped out.

The most spotlighted player is Facundo Garces, who has returned as a key figure at La Liga club Deportivo Alaves. According to Transfermarkt, the central defender is now revalued at 1 million euros (about 31 billion VND), gradually rebuilding his reputation in Europe.

Meanwhile, Imanol Machuca also showed signs of recovery with a market value rising to 1.5 million euros (about 46 billion VND). This price is nearly the same as before the incident, indicating he still maintains his standing in competitive football.

The trio from Johor Darul Ta'zim (JDT) club also saw significant price increases. Joao Figueiredo is currently valued at 1.2 million euros (around 37 billion VND), while his two teammates Jon Irazabal and Hector Hevel are priced at 500,000 euros (about 15 billion VND) and 350,000 euros (about 10 billion VND) respectively.

Rodrigo Holgado, currently on loan at Chilean club Coquimbo Unido, has also increased in value to 250,000 euros after a period of stable play. Although the market value has not been officially updated, Gabriel Palmero has returned to play for Kuching City and even scored goals.

The CAS suspension decision not only saved the careers of the 7 players but also restored the trust clubs have in them. In total, these 7 players, once valued at zero, now have a combined market value of about 146 billion VND.