PETALING JAYA: Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) are the only Super League team to feel the pinch of FIFA’s sanctions on the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) and seven national players.
The Southern Tigers will be missing three of their players as the sanctions include a 12-month suspension from all football-related activities for forgery of documentation to justify their eligibility to play for Malaysia.
Those affected by FIFA’s severe punishment are Joao Figueiredo, Jon Irazabal, and Hector Hevel.
After the fine showing with the national team, which included a superb 4-0 win against Vietnam in the Asian Cup qualifiers they were hired to play for JDT ahead of the current Super League season.
However, they will not see action for the next year, and will also be required to pay a fine of 2,000 Swiss francs (RM10,570).
Besides JDT’s three players, Gabriel Palmero, Facundo Garces, Rodrigo Holgado, and Imanol Machuca have also been slapped with a 12-month suspension and fine.
Palmero’s club Unionistas de Salamanca have already suspended the Spanish-born player, so have Holgado’s team America de Cali.
However, Argentine side Velez Sarsfield have not issued any statement regarding Machuca, as well as Deportivo Alaves on Garces.
