Foul!

Bekas Timbalan Presiden FAM, Datuk Seri Ridzuan Sheikh Ahmad berpandangan sebaliknya apabila melihat kerusi penting itu wajar diisi oleh 'orang bola' dengan satu daripada timbalan presiden FAM ketika ini sepatutnya menerajui organisasi itu. "Saya berpandangan eloklah jawatan Presiden MFL itu dipegang oleh satu daripada timbalan presiden sedia ada khususnya timbalan presiden yang senior. 'Kepala' mestilah dari FAM kerana badan induk itu pun memang berkait rapat dengan MFL. "Kepala' yang baru itu nanti bolehlah kalau mahu memilih mana-mana individu yang difikirkan boleh menyumbang untuk membantu, tiada masalah untuk ambil orang luar menyertai mereka dalam kabinet MFL selepas itu." This was part of an article that was published in Berita Harian today. My initial reaction to the statement - Nope! In an ideal world, a professional would be best suited to run Malaysia Football League (MFL). This is because a professional, with experience in finance and/or...

About a week ago four Super League teams and six Premier League outfits were slapped with fines amounting to RM9 million. Why? Failing to complete their registration within the deadline. What makes matters worse is that ... The last day for submission was December 29 last year but was extended TWICE - January 14 and February 3, 2018. But the teams still given another chance... talian hayat terakhir - can appeal within 14 days (before March 20) to reduce fines. So who are the infamous M-League teams who did not complete their registration in time? Super League: Kelantan, Kuala Lumpur, Selangor and PKNS FC - each slapped RM1.5 million in fines. Premier League: Sarawak, Penang, Kuantan FA, Police, MISC-MIFA and Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) - fined RM500,00 each for a similar offence. How did the teams react? They cry lah. Whine lah. Complain lah. No money, how to pay. Boo hoo! So Football Malaysia LLP will deduct the...

Picture from FA of Malaysia's website. "You can bring the best coach in the world to Malaysia but he still won't be able to change our fortunes so soon.” This is the view of football great Datuk Shukor Salleh who feels it is unfair to blame national coach Nelo Vingada for Malaysia’s failure in the Asia Cup qualifiers. He said the national team lack international quality and will take time to develop. Read the full report in NST Online . Right after the 2019 AFC Asian Cup qualifier between Malaysia and North Korea ended last night, my commentary on the national team was published by The Mole . I said that what we see today is the result of a failed system .  Echoing similar sentiments is former Kedah coach Azraai Khor Abdullah.  “Yes, you are right. Don’t blame the FA of Malaysia (FAM) president (Tunku Ismail Ibrahim) or the coach (Vingada). Our system has failed and the rot starts at the grassroots.” I also took issue with state FA officials who go on ...

The back pages of the English dailies today.  ON Wednesday, six out of 26 national Under-22 players turned up for centralised training. Yesterday, only two remained as the other four were recalled by their teams for this week's M-League matches. And it looks like former national Under-22 coach Frank Bernhardt is being made the scapegoat for this fiasco. Why? Apparently, the German did not priorities the AFC Under-23 qualifiers which begin on July 19 in Bangkok. As his KPI was SEA Games, he was gunning for a good showing at the regional event instead. And why did his bosses in FAM give in to this? ... (I hope FAM would be able to fill in the blanks) .... So is it safe to say those responsible in ensuring the progress and success of Malaysian football saw it fit to just think of SEA Games and not the AFC competition? Why? - Because we are hosting the SEA Games and must make a good impression? - Because we will be humiliated in the AFC tournament? As I wrote ...

MALAYSIA is keen on mending ties with North Korea though the Asian Cup qualifier between both nations after diplomatic relations between Putrajaya and Pyongyang soured following Kim Jong-nam's murder at klia2 on Feb 13. It is learnt a "very senior government official" would like for the match to carry on at the Kim Il-sung Stadium on Oct 5, after it was postponed twice from its original date of March 28 due to geo-political tensions. Malaysia and North Korea withdrew their representatives from their respective embassies following the saga. The Malaysian Embassy in Pyongyang is being operated by the locals. None of the Malaysian staff have returned to the isolated nation. It is also understood officials from North Korea, had during the Fifa Congress in Bahrain in May, invited the FA of Malaysia (FAM) to visit the country and its stadium ahead of the match.  It remains unclear if FAM will take up the offer. But as far as the Asian Football Confederati...

As published in Malay Mail today HARESH SAYS By Haresh Deol THERE is something ‘magical’ about Malaysian football.  Its trophy cabinet is pathetic when compared to badminton and diving. Many within seem to own a DeLorean time machine for they are often stuck in the past. And the woes plaguing the FA of Malaysia (FAM) and state affiliates — from finances to ethics — are more alarming than Zika. Why is football still the nation’s No. 1 sport? Its pull factor is phenomenal. The sport has been able to reach out to many of all walks, uniting those of opposing views and enjoying hundreds of thousands of loyal fans. It comes as no surprise why many continue to be lured to the FAM presidency. Even holding a position, regardless how minute, is seen as an “achievement”. The nominations for the FAM top post will close on Monday, leaving fans and observers at the edge of their seats over who will take over from the Crown Prince of Pahang Tengku Abdullah Shah.\ Those nominated...

As published in Malay Mail today By Haresh Deol haresh@mmail.com.my KUALA LUMPUR — The government will not legalise sports betting despite claims the match-fixing threat has moved from Singapore to Malaysia. Finance Minister II Datuk Johari Abdul Ghani said regulating sports betting would not ensure the long-standing menace would be eliminated. “As far as the government is concerned, we are not going to approve sports betting. Simply put, it’s not a sector we’re looking into,” he said. “What assurance do we have that match-fixing will be eradicated if sports betting is legalised? Singapore legalised sports betting, yet they also had syndicates operating illegally. “We can’t be giving out licences just because there is a demand in the black market. That will not solve the problem.” Johari said there were no records or data to show the amount of “illegal outflow” of the ringgit due to sports betting and that figures bandied around were  merely estimates...

As published in Malay Mail today Malay Mail's July 19, 2006 front page. Nothing has changed since. By Haresh Deol haresh@mmail.com.my STILL reeling from the 10-0 drubbing suffered by the national team in a World Cup qualifying match against United Arab Emirates 10 months ago, football fans fear their hearts will be broken — yet again — when Harimau Malaysia play in the Asean Football Federation (AFF) Cup in November. After all, the national team’s goals have always been to win the SEA Games or AFF Cup and nothing beyond. Why so, one may ask? That is the standard of the team despite the millions spent over decades. Plans of making an impact in the coming AFF Cup have been impaired after four Johor Darul Ta’zim players — Aidil Zafuan Abdul Radzak, Safiq Rahim, S. Kunalan and Amirulhadi Zainal — decided to walk out from Datuk Ong Kim Swee’s squad. There are talks of “disagreements” between the national coach and his players. Ong refuted such claims on Monday. How di...

As published in Malay Mail Afternoon E-Paper yesterday By Haresh Deol haresh@mmail.com.my PETALING JAYA - A cloud of uncertainty hovers over Johor Darul Ta'zim (JDT) after four players turned their backs on the national team. An insider said there has been utter silence among players regarding the issue since Aidil Zafuan Abdul Radzak first announced he was quitting through the Johor Southern Tigers Facebook page on Tuesday. The others who followed suit were Safiq Rahim, S.Kunalan and Amirulhadi Zainal. None of them have spoke to the media about their decision. "Some of the players are clueless as to what is going on, why this is happening," said the insider. "Since those who quit aren't talking about it, others feel it's not in their place to ask. They rather lay low since it has nothing to do with them." The insider said some are unsure of what they should do if they receive a call-up from Datuk Ong Kim Swee. "If given a chanc...

As published in Mailsport today By Haresh Deol haresh@mmail.com.my PETALING JAYA — The national team, already struggling in the international arena, were dealt a blow after two key players quit. Captain Safiq Rahim and Aidil Zafuan Abdul Razak announced their retirement, just hours apart, from Harimau Malaysia through their club Johor Darul Ta’zim (Johor Southern Tigers) Facebook page yesterday. National coach Datuk Ong Kim Swee, however, said he will not be surprised if more players leave the national outfit. “I heard it from the media. I was not informed of anything. “I don't know what is the reason, why they are leaving. But I won't be surprised if more will leave.” While admitting it was a setback, Kim Swee said he will have to move forward as he prepares the team for the Asean Football Federation Cup that starts on Nov 19. “I like challenges, I don't mind the stress ... but not such challenges and stress. I don't want ...