Vélez end Imanol Machuca's contract after FIFA sanction | OneFootball

Vélez Sarsfield decided to terminate Imanol Machuca’s contract due to the FIFA sanction stemming from the “Malaysia-gate” scandal.

The “Fortín” board chose to enforce the termination clause established in the loan contract to part ways with the former Unión player, as first reported by the outlet Sábado Vélez. The measure is directly linked to the punishment imposed by the international body, which prohibits the winger from returning to official competition until the first days of November 2026.

The forward had arrived in Liniers at the beginning of 2025 on loan from Brazilian football. However, in September of that same year he received a 12-month suspension. After his first deal ended in December, and with a provisional measure from the CAS still pending, Vélez backed him again and renewed the loan until the end of the season, while keeping the contractual option to end the employment relationship in June.

The reasons behind his departure and his stats at the club

The player’s situation had already been dragging along administrative and financial complications within the institution:

During his time wearing the “V Azulada” shirt, Imanol Machuca played 28 matches and scored one goal, counting both the games before the suspension and the four matches he was able to play thanks to the CAS appeal. During his spell at the club, he was part of the squad that won the International Super Cup and the Argentine Super Cup.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.