Colombian football, and América de Cali in particular, are in turmoil following the FIFA Disciplinary Committee ‘s ruling against forward Rodrigo Holgado . The striker was handed a 12-month suspension for document falsification during his naturalization process in Malaysia, which allowed him to participate in the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers .
The decision not only affects the player, but also the scarlet club, which must now rethink its sporting project in the midst of an already complicated semester in the Betplay II 2025 League .
Details of the sanction
FIFA’s ruling wasn’t limited to Holgado. In total, seven players were punished for irregularities in their naturalization procedures:
- Rodrigo Holgado
- Hector Hevel
- Jon Irazabal
- Joao Figueiredo
- Imanol Machuca
- Facundo Garcés
- Gabriel Palmero
All of them were registered in an express manner by the Football Association of Malaysia , which constituted a violation of Article 22 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code .
The investigations accelerated after the June 10, 2025 , match, when Malaysia thrashed Vietnam 4-0, with a goal from Holgado. That match raised suspicions about the validity of several players’ IDs.
Fines and consequences
FIFA was forceful in its resolution:
- Fine of 350,000 Swiss francs against the Federation of Malaysia.
- Individual fine of 2,000 Swiss francs for each player involved.
- 12-month suspension from all football-related activities for Holgado and the other sanctioned players.
Although an appeal is available, experts believe the evidence presented is solid and makes any attempt to overturn the sanction difficult.
What will America do with Cali?
Rodrigo Holgado: La sanción de FIFA que afecta al América de Cali
— Jaime Dinas (@JaimeDinas) September 26, 2025
Según reveló Germán García Grova, la FIFA notificó a Holgado y varios jugadores más que no podrán jugar fútbol durante un año a raíz de la sanción impuesta. De acuerdo a la información, “la Federación de Malasia… pic.twitter.com/BcfShTuILR
Holgado tiene contrato con el América hasta diciembre de 2026, pero la directiva podría rescindirlo con justa causa y hasta buscar una indemnización por el daño deportivo ocasionado. De momento, el club no ha emitido un pronunciamiento oficial sobre los pasos a seguir.
El escándalo no solo golpea a la plantilla, también deja en entredicho la planificación deportiva de un semestre que ya venía cuesta arriba para los “Diablos Rojos”.
La sanción a Holgado es, sin duda, uno de los episodios más polémicos del año en el fútbol sudamericano, con impacto directo en un histórico como el América de Cali.
