Naturalization in Malaysia does not necessarily mean retirement after FIFA sanctions

Striker Holgado is warmly received by his old club in Chile as he returns to the field after FIFA's sanction.

Striker Rodrigo Holgado is reportedly aiming to resume playing in Chile during his 12-month FIFA suspension for falsifying documents to represent the Malaysian national team. The Malaysia national team forward, who previously played for Colombia's America de Cali, is currently barred from all football-related activities until September.

While earlier reports suggested the 30-year-old player was considering retirement, Chilean media contacting his former club, Coquimbo Unido, have sparked speculation about his comeback.

Coquimbo fans' hopes rose after Holgado responded "Why not?" to journalist Maestro Pinchaguero's Instagram post about the possibility of his return.

Pinchaguero also reported that the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) has appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) to review the player's sanction. Pablo Morales, General Director of Coquimbo Unido, stated last November that the club still keeps open the possibility of the Argentine player's return.

"Coquimbo Unido will always be Rodrigo Holgado’s home, that’s a fact. He is connected to this jersey, he even tattooed the badge on himself," Morales said. "Whenever he decides to come back to this region, the door will be fully open." Holgado, who debuted for the Malaysian national team last year, is one of seven players sanctioned for violating Article 22 of FIFA’s Disciplinary Code.

He and teammates Gabriel Palmero, Facundo Garces, Imanol Machuca, Joao Figueiredo, Jon Irazabal, and Hector Hevel were each fined 2,000 CHF (about 10,000 RM) and suspended from playing for 12 months. FAM was also fined 350,000 CHF (around 1.8 million RM), while FIFA annulled the results of three friendlies involving the ineligible players.

The matches included a 1-1 draw with Cape Verde on May 29, a 2-1 win over Singapore on September 4, and a 1-0 victory against Palestine on September 8, all recorded as 0-3 forfeits. FAM subsequently took the case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Switzerland to determine the future of the sanctioned players.