Spanish club retains naturalized Malaysian defender despite CAS upholding one-year suspension

Spain's Deportivo Alaves stated they respect the ruling by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) to maintain a one-year playing ban on defender Facundo Garces.

The club indicated that Garces will continue training with the La Liga team during his suspension period.

CAS ruled that Garces and six other players, banned for falsifying documents to qualify for Malaysia, may resume football-related activities, including training.

However, the official 12-month match ban remains in effect and will be backdated from September.

The club stated: "The player is banned from official matches for 12 months, and the period already served will be counted toward this penalty.

The ban is limited to match participation. Garces may continue training and professional activities with the club during this time."

Deportivo Alaves also mentioned they will thoroughly review the entire CAS decision.

"We respect the decisions of the competent authorities and will study the full content of the ruling in detail," the club's announcement said.

In this case, the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) lost its appeal after a disciplinary investigation into football regulation violations.

Alaves affirmed that Garces will maintain professional activities throughout the remaining suspension to preserve his condition and readiness to play immediately after the ban ends.

Previously, the CAS Panel concluded that falsification of eligibility documents did occur, and a 12-month match ban is a reasonable and proportionate penalty for the seven involved players.

The seven players are: Facundo Tomas Garces Rattaro, Rodrigo Julian Holgado, Imanol Javier Machuca, Joao Vitor Brandao Figueiredo, Gabriel Felipe Arrocha, Jon Irazabal Iraurgui, and Hector Alejandro Hevel Serrano.

CAS stated the penalty is appropriate due to their complicit roles in the case.

However, the CAS panel decided the ban applies only to matches, not all football-related activities.

"In accordance with Article 22 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code, the ban applies to matches and does not encompass all football activities.

This means the players may still train with their clubs throughout the suspension period.

Therefore, the players' appeal is partially upheld and the ban has been modified," the CAS release stated.

The match ban begins today, March 5, 2026, with credit given for the prior suspension period from September 25, 2025, to January 26, 2026.

The CAS Panel also ruled that the fine of 350,000 Swiss francs (approximately 1.76 million RM) imposed on the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) is reasonable and proportionate.