Malaysian naturalized player faces double penalty from FIFA.
Imanol Machuca was found training in Argentina despite serving a 12-month ban. This action threatens to lead to FIFA increasing the penalty for the Malaysian national team star.
Naturalized midfielder Imanol Machuca is jeopardizing his career after being spotted participating in a training session with his former club San Lorenzo in Argentina. Notably, this occurred while the player was serving a 12-month ban from playing imposed by the International Football Federation (FIFA).
Challenging the ban from the most powerful authority.
According to Argentinian media, Machuca did not remain silent during his suspension but continued to participate directly in professional activities on the field. His appearance at San Lorenzo's training ground was considered a serious violation of current disciplinary regulations.
Sports lawyer Nik Erman Nik Roseli analyzed that, although FIFA's Disciplinary Code does not detail every single offense, in principle, the penalized person must be suspended from all football-related activities. This includes training, competing, managing, and even commercial events related to the club or national team.
Legal risks and the danger of "double convictions"
Based on Article 21 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code, individuals who fail to comply with disciplinary decisions may face additional sanctions. Specifically, FIFA has the right to extend the duration of the ban or impose heavier financial penalties on the offending player.
Machuca is not the only case. The list of seven players who received a 12-month ban and a 2,000 Franc fine (approximately 66 million VND) also includes Hector Hevel, Facundo Garces, Joao Figueirido, Jon Irazabal, Rodrigo Holgado, and Gabriel Palmero. However, Machuca's unauthorized attendance at training sessions is making him the target of criticism.
Severe consequences for Malaysian football.
The incident involving the naturalized players caused a major shock to the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM). The organization was not only fined 350,000 Francs but also witnessed a dramatic drop in the national team's world rankings. Due to the use of illegal players, Malaysia suffered 0-3 defeats in three friendly matches against Cape Verde, Singapore, and Palestine, causing their ranking to fall from 116th to 121st in the world.
Head coach Peter Cklamovski was forced to accept the harsh reality and begin rebuilding the team without the services of this group of naturalized players. While the FAM was attempting to appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), Machuca's lack of discipline came as a "cold shower" to the efforts to salvage the state of the country's football.