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...

1. The subject of unpaid wages in the Malaysian football scene is nothing new. 2. Every year, just before the new season begins, reports of footballers and coaches not receiving their dues for months hog the limelight. 3. This year is no different. Melaka United Football Association has embarked on a donation drive to raise funds to settle its 2019 debts, as reported b y Berita Harian . 4. In 2011, several Kuala Lumpur fans initiated a Save KLFA campaign following the association's financial woes. The intention was noble but Kuala Lumpur Football Association (KLFA) failed to capitalise on the momentum. Eight years on, KLFA still believes that  placing a politician as its president  will free the association of monetary issues. 5. Long term plans are alien to most sports organisations in Malaysia as its presidents and office bearers are only interested in making an impact, if any, during their term. 6. However, the guardians of Malaysian football had once impleme...

2018 will end in about two weeks. The conversations have been consistently about "bad economy" (or to some the 3Rs - rights, race and religion) since May 9 happened. And now there are talks of Telekom Malaysia pulling out as the title sponsor of the M-League. This despite having signed a lucrative deal with the guardians of the Malaysian football league - dubbed as the "biggest agreement in Malaysian sports history worth RM480 million (RM60 million over eight years). On Feb 1, NST reported: Telekom Malaysia's (TM) Unifi brand is the new title sponsor for the Malaysian Super League and Malaysia Cup in a collaboration with Football Malaysia LLP (FMLLP) until 2025. TM’s premier convergence brand Unifi will also co-sponsor the FA Cup as the eight-year agreement, beginning this season, marks TM’s continued support towards local football development and uplifting the standard of sports in the country. With the sponsorship, the league is now known as “...

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...

TWO former footballers were charged in the Sessions Court in Seremban this morning with two counts of offering bribes to two Malaysian Indian Sports Council-Malaysian Indian Football Association (MISC-MIFA) players involving RM20,000. National player Khairul Anuar Baharum, 43, and Public Bank player S G. Prem Kumar, 49, claimed trial to both charges. On the first charge, they are accused of offering RM10,000 to MIFA goal keeper Mohd Khairul Izzuwan Shaari to fix the outcome of the match, 0-2, between MISC-MIFA and Perak State Development Corporation on April 7, this year. On the second charge, they are accused of offering RM10,000 to MIFA player S.Harivarman for the same purpose. They allegedly committed the offences at Jalan Andalas 1, Senawang Light Industry Area in Seremban between 9pm and 10pm on March 27. Deputy public prosecutor Nurdiyanah Mohd Nawawi represented the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) while Khairul Anuar or ”Ah Chong” was represented by co...

“Corruption involving local footballers is still prevalent in the country. We are still encountering cases involving corruption among footballers, but it is not easy to prosecute someone without any concrete evidence." Those were the words of Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission ( MACC) deputy chief commissioner Datuk Azam Baki. Read the report here . Here's the thing. Since the establishment of the full time committee comprising the FA of Malaysia, MACC and police in 2012 , we have hardly heard of any arrests made. Reason? As Azam said, it's not easy to prosecute without concrete evidence. As for FAM?  It's Coordination and Integrity Department, headed by former policeman Osman Bakar, does not seem to have the power or means to nab those responsible for corrupting the beautiful game. Insiders reveal the national body has been providing information to the authorities throughout last year. The M-League is still being monitored by betting websites....

As published in Mailsport today Double contracts illegal, say FAM By Nicolas Anil nicolas@mmail.com.my PETALING JAYA — The FA of Malaysia (FAM) said an M-League team cannot offer two contracts to a footballer, deeming the practice illegal. “We have informed all teams and clubs they must only have one official contract recognised by FAM. To offer two contracts to the same player is illegal,” said FAM general-secretary Datuk Hamidin Amin. “This cannot and must not be condoned.” Hamidin also chided the Professional Footballers Association of Malaysia (PFAM) after their chief executive officer Izham Ismail, had on Tuesday said it is not illegal to sign two contracts with one team. Izham said this after revealing 21 players, mostly from Armed Forces, had not been paid wages amounting to RM4.3 million and teams made their players sign two contracts to pay lower income tax, Employees Provident Fund (EPF) and Social Security Organisation (Socso) contributions. PF...

As published in Mailsport today By Nicolas Anil and R. Loheswar  mmsports@mmail.com.my KUALA LUMPUR — It was a press conference to announce 21 players had not been paid salaries totalling RM4,397,000 but instead it revealed how Armed Forces made their players sign two contracts so they could pay less income tax,  Employees Provident Fund ( EPF) and  Social Security Organisation ( Socso). The official contract follows the rules and regulations  but the one with the club, said to be a mutual understanding between the Forces and the players meant they were under-declaring their income, thus affecting how much they contributed to EPF, income tax and Socso. The players were told they had no choice but to sign the club contracts and they greedily went along with the deception as they thought they could pocket the extra cash without repercussions. That backfired spectacularly as the 15 players have not been paid for six months till their contracts ...

As published in Malay Mail today Haresh Says By Haresh Deol THE inability to plan ahead continues to plague the M-League. The new season kicks off in nine days — Premier League starts a day before the Super League – yet the guardians of the domestic league are struggling to tackle many issues — from broadcasting rights to deciding on the official match ball. This year is supposed to be the start of the “professional era”, a term observers have heard on numerous occasions. But beyond the ties and suits donned by officials, Malaysian football is still amateur in so many ways. Football Limited Liability Partnership Malaysia (FMLLP), the newly-formed body tasked with injecting professionalism into the scene, has yet to secure the broadcasting rights. Its chief executive officer, Kevin Ramalingam, the man who was once part of Kelantan FA, was quoted in Sunday Mail as saying the delay is because MP & Silva is still locked in discussions with pot...

As published in Malay Mail today. M-League teams want bigger slice of pie By Vijhay Vick vijhayvick@mmail.com.my PETALING JAYA — M-League teams want their share of the pie increased when the FA of Malaysia (FAM) sign a new bumper M-League sponsorship deal. Under the current RM30 million-a-year deal with cable television operators Astro, each of the 12 Super League, Premier League and FAM League teams receive RM350,000, RM250,000 and RM50,000 respectively. There are also incentives based on league placings. The grants work out to a mere RM7.8 million — meaning FAM keep the remaining RM22.2 million to run the league, pay incentives for league placements and for other expenses such as RM15,000 to home teams and RM5,000 to away teams for matches shown live. Malay Mail spoke to several state FAs and clubs regarding the new deal which could be worth in excess of RM70 million and they unanimously indicated the need for a bigger pay cheque. “I can’t put a figure on it but the amount must ...

It has been almost unheard of before but racism is sadly rearing its ugly head in the M-League amidst claims that a Pahang footballer was taunted by players from an opposing team. Pahang FA is expected to report to the FA of Malaysia (FAM) today over alleged racist remarks hurled at their Jamaican defender Damion Stewart by Johor Darul Takzim’s Pablo Aimar and Luciano Figueroa in a Super League match at the Darulmakmur Stadium last Saturday. It is believed this is the first time such a report has been lodged in the history of Malaysian football. It is understood  that Stewart was harassed throughout the match and his Pakistan teammate Zesh Rehman will be the key witness in the report to be submitted today. The source said it was fortunate Stewart kept his cool and did not react angrily during the match, despite being constantly heckled by both the former Argentinean internationals. However, after the match, Stewart attempted to confront Aimar and Figuero but was restrained by team ...

Malaysian betting syndicates have grown in stature as their corrupt practices have now penetrated leagues across the world. Chris Eaton, director of Sport Integrity at the International Centre for Sport and Security, said Malaysians have been in the thick of global betting syndicates and were linked to leagues and agents in Australia, England and Brunei. He was responding to reports that a Malaysian betting syndicate had tried to fix matches in India last season. “Yes (I am) aware of this (Malaysians linked to fixing I-League matches). (They are) connected to Australia and England, and interestingly Brunei too,” said Eaton yesterday. “But it’s far bigger than Malaysia as you know. All our tracks are leading to China and Russia via compliant, complicit and ignorant others.” Eaton, however, was unsure if the M-League, which kicked-off last week, was spared from such activities. “We are in the middle of these inquiries now. We haven’t looked at the M-league for a while. Just look at the...

PRESS RELEASE BATTLE ROYALE FOR THE MOST VALUABLE PLAYER AWARD 100PLUS-ASTRO ARENA-FAM NATIONAL FOOTBALL AWARDS 2013 PETALING JAYA (21 Nov 2013) - Johor striker Norsharul Idlan Talaha has been voted the Most Valuable Player at the 100PLUS-Astro Arena-FAM National Football Awards for the last three years. His dreams of a fourth consecutive MVP crown, however, may not materialise as there are several strong contenders for the prestigious award. “It was not easy coming up with this shortlist. We certainly took time to observe these players throughout the season,” said Datuk Khaidir Buyong, the honorary secretary of the Malaysian Football Coaches Association (MFCA). “Initially, we wanted to select just five players in each category but in the end, we thought that six players would be fair. Now it is up to the respective teams to select the best in 2013. Certainly, it will not be easy pick,” Khaidir said. Norshahrul will be up against players like national teammat...