FIFA suspensions end for seven heritage football players

Seven heritage football players have been cleared to resume all football-related activities following the expiration of 12-month suspensions imposed by FIFA. The Malaysian Football League (MFL) confirmed the end of the sanctions in a circular dated October 30.

The players involved are Facundo Garces, Rodrigo Holgado, Imanol Machuca, Joao Figueiredo, Gabriel Palmero, Jon Irazabal, and Hector Hevel. The suspensions were originally issued by FIFA last year after the football governing body found that falsified documents had been used to support the eligibility of these foreign-born players to represent Malaysia in international matches.

While the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) upheld the 12-month suspension period in March, it ruled that the bans applied only to official matches rather than all football activities. Four of the players, including Joao Figueiredo, Gabriel Palmero, Jon Irazabal, and Hector Hevel, play for Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT). Rodrigo Holgado is reportedly nearing a move to Brunei-based club DPMM FC.