KUALA LUMPUR – The National Security Council’s (NSC) decision to postpone the remaining seven matches of the TM Malaysia Cup has not gone down well with some in the football fraternity.
There has been a lot of confusion on standard operating procedures since the government announced the implementation of the conditional movement control order (CMCO) throughout the peninsula except for Pahang, Perlis and Kelantan from November 9 till December 6.
Sources in the Health Ministry said they have advised the NSC on implementing stricter SOPs during the CMCO period.
The ministry had no influence on the decision to postpone the football matches, which was announced by Senior Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob, they said.
Ismail Sabri told The Vibes, however, that the decision was made based on the advice of Health Director-General Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah.
“It is a contact sport, and that is not allowed during the CMCO. The players sweat, and it is very dangerous and easy to get infected.
“At the same time, interstate travel is not allowed, especially from a red zone to a green zone. It is our responsibility to protect states like Pahang, Perlis and Kelantan, where the tournament was proposed to be hosted.”
Asked about the NSC’s decision to allow the Anugerah Bintang Popular event to be held on Friday, he said it will be easier to control and implement social distancing at the programme.
“Attendees will be wearing their masks or face shields, unlike in football. Thus, our decision to postpone the Malaysia Cup.”
European leagues play on with SOPs
Meanwhile, former Selangor coach N. Sathianathan believes that the government made the wrong call to postpone the Malaysia Cup matches, saying they could still go on with stricter SOPs.
“The players, the team officials, and whoever is involved in the Malaysia Cup can follow stricter SOPs set by the Health Ministry and NSC.
“We did it when the league resumed. Why not now in the Malaysia Cup, when there are only seven matches left?
“In Europe, despite some countries being in lockdown, the football leagues are still on with stricter SOPs.
“If the government thinks it is a contact sport and the risk of infection is higher, then how are the other countries doing it? Maybe there is something that we can learn from them.
“They (government) think football is a recreational sport, but they fail to understand that it is an industry on its own, and their decision will affect players, teams and sponsors.”
Describing the decision as “harsh” towards the teams and league, he said there are a lot of implications arising from it.
“Sponsors may pull out, and players and officials may not be paid for the remaining months. It is like any other occupation where work must go on while we follow the procedure with strict SOPs.”
Former Football Association of Malaysia director of international affairs and the national teams department E.R. Subramaniam said if there are stricter SOPs, the matches should carry on.
However, he said, he also feels that it is best to let the dust settle before allowing football matches.
Adverse impact on wages, contracts, sponsorships
Meanwhile, Malaysian Football League (MFL) CEO Datuk Ab Ghani Hassan said postponing the Malaysia Cup will impact the national football industry, especially the MFL and participating teams.
It will particularly affect agreements signed with sponsors for the 2020 season.
Apart from that, the 2020 Malaysia League contracts that players signed with their respective teams are set to expire at the end of this month, making it difficult for the MFL to postpone this season’s Malaysia Cup competition.
The MFL yesterday appealed to the NSC to reconsider its decision to postpone the Malaysia Cup.
Ghani said he hopes that the NSC will allow the competition, now at the quarter-final stage, to be held in accordance with strict SOPs, including holding matches in a quarantine-based manner.
He said the quarter-finalists could play in a state not under the CMCO right up to the final, with eliminated teams required to leave the state.
“The decision to submit the appeal has the backing of the eight quarter-finalists. They are willing to play according to the plans and SOPs set in place by the MFL and NSC.”
He said the MFL has held several discussions with Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Seri Reezal Merican Naina Merican to find alternatives.
“The MFL made plans to proceed with the competition in non-CMCO states, and has also applied to use the Sultan Mohamad IV Stadium in Kota Baru and Darul Makmur Stadium in Kuantan for the quarter-finals, semi-finals and final.”
The first round of the Malaysia Cup was held from November 6 to 8, while the quarter-finals had been slated for November 12 and 13, semi-finals (November 17) and final (November 22). – The Vibes, November 11, 2020
