Against the ban, FIFA may increase the sanction for the Malaysian naturalized player

Imanol Machuca, a naturalized Malaysian footballer, might receive further punishment from FIFA after being caught playing in a training match with his old club San Lorenzo while under a 12-month ban.

Although currently serving a 12-month suspension imposed by the International Football Federation (FIFA), midfielder Imanol Machuca of the Malaysian national team attracted attention after being spotted taking part in a training match with his former club San Lorenzo in Argentina.

According to Argentine media, Machuca’s “restless” behavior during his suspension period could lead to additional disciplinary measures from FIFA.

Sports and commercial lawyer Nik Erman Nik Roseli stated that Machuca’s current penalty prohibits him from engaging in any football-related activities for one year, including training, playing, managing, or commercial events.

“There is no specific definition in FIFA’s Disciplinary Code, but it can be understood that all activities from training to commercial involvement are banned. Machuca’s participation in the San Lorenzo training session could be considered a violation of the current sanction,” Mr. Nik Erman told BH Sukan.

According to Article 21 of FIFA’s Disciplinary Code, if the punished individual fails to comply with the regulations, FIFA has the authority to extend the suspension period or impose additional fines.

Besides Machuca, six other players including Hector Hevel, Facundo Garces, Joao Figueirido, Jon Irazabal, Rodrigo Holgado, and Gabriel Palmero are also serving similar 12-month bans and fined approximately 2000 Francs (around 66 million VND) each.

Not only the players, but the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) was also heavily fined 350,000 Francs by FIFA due to its involvement. FAM has appealed the case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) as a final step in the legal process.

However, the difficulties are not over yet. FIFA has annulled the results of three Malaysia friendly matches against Cape Verde, Singapore, and Palestine because the team fielded banned players. These matches were forfeited 0-3, causing Malaysia’s national team to drop from 116th to 121st in the world rankings, ending their impressive unbeaten streak in 2025.

Machuca’s impulsive action has thus not only harmed himself but also placed FAM in a complicated situation with FIFA, serving as a costly lesson for both players and the association about strictly adhering to international disciplinary rules.