Southeast Asian fans were stirred up when Malaysia's naturalized player secretly changed nationality

Facundo Garcés was unexpectedly registered by Deportivo Alavés with Argentine nationality instead of Malaysian, immediately sparking discussions among Southeast Asian fans. This detail has brought the controversial naturalization case in Malaysian football back into the spotlight.

According to the latest squad list submitted by Deportivo Alavés for La Liga, Facundo Garcés remains part of the Spanish club's roster. However, the notable detail lies in the nationality section, where the 29-year-old defender is listed as a player from Argentina, instead of Malaysia as previously reported.

This information immediately sparked numerous reactions on regional football forums. Most fans expressed surprise while also recalling the controversies surrounding Garcés' naturalization process.

One Southeast Asian fan commented humorously: “Perhaps Garcés has finally returned to his familiar nationality after all the recent turmoil.”

Another fan sarcastically remarked: “Looking back at the whole story, it feels like the time Garcés wore the Malaysian jersey was just a very special trip in his career.”

Meanwhile, another fan wrote: “From Spain to Malaysia and then to Argentina, Garcés' nationality story really captures fans' attention.” These reactions show that the case involving the group of naturalized Malaysian players remains a topic of great interest among Southeast Asian fans.

Garcés is one of seven players whose documentation issues were uncovered during the naturalization process in Malaysia. After the scandal was exposed, FIFA imposed a one-year suspension on the involved players. According to the schedule, Garcés' ban will expire in September 2026.

During the suspension period, the defender born in 1999 still received support from Deportivo Alavés. This is a difference from some other players in the controversial naturalization group, who were later taken in by Johor Darul Ta'zim.

The fact that Alavés is now registering Garcés with Argentine nationality makes the story even more noteworthy. Although it is not yet possible to confirm that this detail means the 29-year-old player no longer holds Malaysian nationality, it is still enough to spark a new wave of discussion among the Southeast Asian football community.