KUALA LUMPUR − Malaysian League (M-League) teams that violate the standard operating procedure (SOP) of the sports bubble in future will face action from the Malaysian Football League (MFL).
MFL president, Datuk Hamidin Mohd Amin, said its Board members had decided to impose punishment on any team found not complying with the rules set to control the spread of COVID-19.
"After this, any team that fails to comply with the SOP will be punished. MFL chief executive officer, Datuk Ab Ghani Hassan, will issue a circular to the effect soon in accordance with the approved rules," he said during an online press conference after the fifth meeting of MFL's partners for the 2021 season today.
Before this, MFL had to postpone five Super League matches involving Kedah Darul Aman FC (KDA) and seven Premier League matches involving Kuching City FC (KCFC) due to some players and officials of the teams being positive for Covid-19 after the Hari Raya Haji (Aidiladha) celebration.
MFL also had to make changes to the M-League schedule involving all teams, to provide balance and maintain the integrity of the league competition, besides allowing the last action of the league to be held simultaneously on the same day.
Meanwhile, Hamidin, who is also Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) president, introduced three candidates who won the election for team representatives to the MFL Board of Directors for the 2021-2025 term.
They are Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) director, Datuk Mohamad Jaifuddin Bujang Mohidin, UiTM FC Chief Executive Officer, Mustaza Ahmad, and Melaka United Executive Director, Datuk Mohd Saiful Mat Sapri.
Hamidin also stressed that MFL will tighten the implementation of its Economic Control Program (ECP) to ensure that clubs spend according to income as the economy has been affected by the Covid-19 pandemic since last year.
"We need to act more decisively so that they (clubs) spend according to the budget... Without money to play throughout the year, it will further complicate their financial situation," he said.
Hamidin further explained that MFL's planning for the M-League to run in the new norm needs to be efficient, thus asking the teams to be prepared for all possibilities for next season saying that the pandemic is unlikely to end anytime soon while economic recovery is expected to take up to three years.
He also reiterated his pledge to step down as MFL president, which he has held since 2019, when the time comes. – Bernama, August 11, 2021
