Garcés back in training at Alavés after TAS suspension freeze
Argentine defender Facundo Garcés returns to Alavés training after receiving temporary reprieve from FIFA's 12-month ban, boosting Coudet's defensive options.
Argentine defender Facundo Garcés has rejoined Alavés training after the Court of Arbitration for Sport (TAS) granted him a temporary suspension of his FIFA ban, providing a timely boost to Eduardo Coudet’s squad.
Ban Background
The defender had been sidelined since September 26th when FIFA slapped him with a 12-month suspension for allegedly submitting “manipulated documentation” in connection with a Malaysia national team call-up. The sanction had prevented him from participating in any Alavés activities, forcing him to train alone for nearly four months.
The news broke yesterday afternoon when TAS granted a temporary stay of the ban while they review his case, allowing Garcés to immediately return to training at Ibaia facilities.
Coudet’s Defensive Boost
Garcés’s return effectively serves as Alavés’s first winter market reinforcement, arriving at a crucial time for Coudet who has been dealing with limited defensive options:
- Pacheco has been the only specialist centre-back available
- Neither Yusi nor Parada has nailed down the left-back position
- Coudet was forced to improvise against Betis, playing Jonny at left-back while repositioning Benavidez as centre-back and Tenaglia on the right
Road to Match Fitness
The immediate challenge for Garcés will be regaining match fitness after four months on the sidelines. It’s a familiar situation for the Argentine, who faced similar circumstances last year upon arriving in Vitoria after barely playing during his final year at Colón.
Despite these challenges, Coudet isn’t expected to wait long before integrating Garcés into his plans. Before his suspension, the defender had established himself as an indispensable piece in the manager’s system.
Impact on Transfer Plans
It remains to be seen whether Alavés will alter their winter transfer plans, which reportedly included signing another central defender. Regardless, Garcés’s return provides another option for a defensive unit that, despite all its challenges, currently ranks as the eighth-least scored against in La Liga.