Alaves are looking for a replacement for Facundo Garces following his FIFA suspension.
Deportivo Alaves has unexpectedly changed its stance and is actively searching for a new central defender, making the future of Malaysian naturalized star Facundo Garces more uncertain than ever.
The future of center-back Facundo Garces is in serious jeopardy following the latest moves by the Deportivo Alaves management. Although the La Liga club had previously stated they would support the player through his one-year FIFA ban, the situation at Mendizorrotza Stadium has now completely changed in a way that is unfavorable to the Malaysian-born player.
Deportivo Alaves' sudden change of attitude
According to reliable sources from Spain, Deportivo Alaves' management has decided to shift its focus and begin actively searching for a new central defender in the upcoming transfer window. This move is being called a surprising "U-turn" by experts, especially considering Garces had hoped for patience from his current club.
The main reason for this decision stems from a severe personnel crisis in the defense. Coach Eduardo Coudet is currently in a passive position as the squad lacks the necessary depth to maintain the goal of avoiding relegation. Meanwhile, Nikola Maras is expected to leave the club in January as he is no longer part of the team's plans, making the void at center back even more pressing.
Consequences of the fake document scandal and a one-year ban.
Astro Arena television channel believes that Facundo Garces's prolonged absence from competition will seriously affect his form. This forces Alaves to take decisive action to protect the team's overall performance instead of waiting for a player whose return date to peak condition is uncertain. Finding a replacement means that Garces's chances of playing in La Liga are gradually closing.
Looking back at the incident, Facundo Garces was one of seven players suspended by FIFA in September 2025. This scandal rocked regional football when FIFA determined that these players had used falsified family background documents to obtain Malaysian citizenship and play for the Malaysian national team.
Although the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) has attempted to appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) to seek a reduction in the sentence, the chances of success are considered very low. Reports indicate that the players themselves were directly involved in the fraudulent record-keeping process, making the case even more serious in the eyes of international football governing bodies.
Negative impact on Malaysian football.
The consequences of the misconduct by the group of naturalized players extend beyond individual players. The Malaysian national team has been handed three consecutive defeats by FIFA in their most recent friendly matches, leading to a significant drop in the world rankings, currently sitting at 121st. This represents a major setback for the country's football ambitions.
More seriously, the team nicknamed "The Tigers" is facing the risk of being disqualified by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) in their 2027 Asian Cup qualifying matches against Vietnam and Nepal. If this scenario occurs, Malaysia will officially lose the right to participate in the continent's biggest football tournament, an irreparable loss in terms of image and professional performance.
With the penalty still hanging in the balance and his club already searching for a replacement, Facundo Garces is at a crossroads in his career. From a hopeful naturalized citizen, the central defender has now become a symbol of a crisis period for Malaysian football.
