Rodrigo Holgado, Front of América de Cali.
Photo: @Americadecali
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FIFA gave details on Monday about the sanction of one year to Argentine striker Rodrigo Holgado, current player of América de Cali, for the use of false documentation to represent the Malaysian team in the last international window.
The case is part of a broader investigation that involves the Football Federation of Malaysia (FAM) and six other players who obtained the nationality irregularly and also recently saw action with the combined Southeast Asia.
According to the report of the highest world football agency, the documents presented by the naturalized players contained false data on their ascends. One of the requirements to do so is to have a father or grandfather who was born in the territory to be represented.
In the Holgado file, FIFA determined that its alleged Malaysian grandfather, Omar Eli Holgado Gardón, was not born in George Town – as indicated by the registry that the Malay Federation – but in Caseros, on the outskirts of Buenos Aires.
🇲🇾 FIFA published its investigation regarding nationalized players by Malaysia. It is scandalous.
For example, Omar Holgado, grandfather of the striker, was born in Caseros. The same with Machuca's grandmother, Concepción Agueda Alaniz. They passed. pic.twitter.com/H73ZW60NIN
– Nahuel Lanzón (@nahuelzn) October 6, 2025
In addition to the suspension for twelve months, Little must pay a fine of 2,000 Swiss francs. Imanol Machuca, Facundo Garcés, Gabriel Palmero, João Figueiredo, Jon Irazábal and Héctor Hevel received identical sanctions. The FAM, meanwhile, was punished with 350,000 francs for its role in manipulation of documents.
The Malaysian Federation announced that it will appeal the decision before the Appeal Commission of the Governing Entity. Meanwhile, América de Cali confirmed that, as long as the case of Holgado does not take a new course, he will not be able to count on his services at least until October of the next year.
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