Machuca was suspended, and Velez sent him back to Fortaleza in Brazil.
Imanol Machuca played 17 minutes against Vietnam, was banned by FIFA for 12 months and fined 2,000 Swiss francs; Velez did not buy him outright, he had to return to Fortaleza, FAM appealed to CAS.
Just 17 minutes in the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers have plunged Imanol Machuca's international career into legal trouble: the naturalized Malaysian national team player has been suspended by FIFA for 12 months, fined 2,000 Swiss francs, and is now preparing to leave Velez Sarsfield to return to Fortaleza.
Velez did not buy the club outright, Machuca returns to Fortaleza.
According to Sabado Velez, a news outlet closely associated with the Argentinian club, Velez is unlikely to activate the buy-out clause for Imanol Machuca for the 2026 season. The report states: "Machuca is almost certainly not going to stay at Velez in 2026. His loan contract will end on December 31st, after which he will have to return to Fortaleza." This puts an end to the 25-year-old midfielder's short stint in Argentina, amidst his ongoing FIFA suspension.
Why did FIFA issue the penalty?
Machuca is one of seven naturalized Malaysian players sanctioned by FIFA. The reason: he played in the match against Vietnam in the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers, and FIFA determined that he did not have genuine Malaysian ancestry. Despite playing only 17 minutes, Machuca received the same disciplinary action as his other naturalized teammates.
The names of those implicated along with Machuca.
- Gabriel Palmero
- Facundo Garces
- Rodrigo Holgado
- Joao Figueiredo
- Jon Irazabal
- Hector Hevel
According to FIFA's decision, each player was fined 2,000 Swiss francs and banned from participating in football activities for 12 months from the date the penalty was imposed (October 2025).
Impact: Malaysia faces a major risk in the qualifiers.
The case is not over. After FIFA rejected their appeal earlier this month, the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) confirmed they will continue the case at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). While awaiting the ruling, the Malaysian national team is still allowed to participate in the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers and await a rematch with Vietnam next March.
However, if CAS rules against them, FAM and the national team could face serious penalties, including the possibility of forfeiting the match or being banned from competing for many years. One scenario mentioned is that Malaysia would be deducted six points in Group F, meaning they would lose their ticket to the finals in Saudi Arabia to Vietnam.
Tactical and personnel perspective
In terms of personnel, the suspension deprived Malaysia of a midfield option that was expected to add creativity. Although Machuca's playing time was minimal, the continuity and stability of the squad – especially in the naturalized positions – were disrupted, forcing the coaching staff to adjust their rotation plans and pressing structure from the midfield.
At the club level, Velez's failure to retain him and Machuca's return to Fortaleza slowed down the pace of play in the environment he had just adapted to, while the ban froze all his playing plans for the next 12 months.
The numbers are noteworthy.
| Item | Data |
|---|---|
| Match duration against Vietnam | 17 minutes |
| Prohibition period | 12 months (from October 2025) |
| The penalty for each player | 2,000 Swiss francs |
| Number of affected players | 7 |
| Loan contract expiration date | 31/12 |
From a 17-minute incident to a protracted legal battle, Machuca's story has become a harsh test for Malaysia's plan to use naturalized players – and could be a turning point for Group F if the CAS rejects FAM's appeal.
