KUALA LUMPUR – The Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) feels that it is too late to make any changes regarding the quota on imported players for the Malaysian League (M-League) this season.
Nevertheless, FAM is ready to discuss with the Malaysian Football League (MFL) as the administrator of the M-League to review permission to register imported players in an effort to enhance the standard of local players.
FAM secretary-general Mohd Saifuddin Abu Bakar expects any changes on the quota on imported players will only be seen in the next two seasons at the latest.
“For now no change, however, I think the Technical Committee chaired by Datuk S. Sivasundaram will discuss this matter carefully as to whether we need to reduce or maintain (the quota on imported players).
“But what is certain is not this season because it is too late, if we do (change), maybe (for) the next two seasons,” he said when met at the final of the Kuala Lumpur Women’s Football Championship (KLWFC) 2021 at the Kuala Lumpur Football Stadium, Cheras, yesterday.
Under M-League rules, Super League and Premier League teams are allowed to register a maximum of five and four foreign players respectively.
The registration of five foreign players for the Super League competition must include one Asian and Southeast Asian player slot each per team while for the Premier League one Asian player slot.
Currently, the topic of import player quota is “hot” again after the failure of the national team in the 2020 ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) Cup that was held on Singapore last month. Malaysia’s target was the final but did not even make it to the semi-finals.
The quota is considered to be one of the main reasons for Malaysia’s declining performance at the international level, apart from the national squad’s shortage of quality strikers following leagues teams’ dependence on using imported players in that position.
The matter has not only received reactions from fans and critics, but there were also local players who suggested that the quota on imported players be reduced to give more space to Malaysians to be in starting line-ups. – Bernama, January 3, 2022
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