[UPDATED] Super League: S’wak, Melaka clubs ruled out after MFL denies licence

KUALA LUMPUR – The Malaysian Football League (MFL) has rejected applications by Super League outfits Sarawak United FC and Melaka United FC for a national club licence, making them ineligible to compete in the 2023 season. 

This was announced by Sheikh Mohd Nasir Sheikh Mohd Sharif, chairman of the First Instance Body (FIB), an independent decision-making body appointed by the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM).

Sheikh Mohd Nasir said that both Sarawak United and Melaka United have failed to meet the requirements set in the MFL’s club licensing rules. 

He explained that the clubs did not meet the criteria set in the MFL Club Licensing Regulation Cycle 2022.

Melaka United failed to submit proof of payment of salary arrears for players and officials up to August 2022 and other required financial documents, he said. 

Sarawak United failed to comply with several financial and sporting criteria, while also having two FIFA Dispute Resolution Chamber cases against former players Sandro da Silva Mendonca and Taylor Regan.

However, both clubs have until October 19 to lodge an appeal in writing to MFL’s appeals body on the refusal to grant them the licence.

Sarawak United had previously been handed a ban on transferring players by FIFA after failing to settle salary arrears and compensation for da Silva amounting to more than RM150,000. 

MFL has instructed teams to submit a declaration proving they are free of any salary delays and issues, as well as proof of payments for the Employees Provident Fund, Inland Revenue Board, Social Security Organisation, and Employment Insurance System before December 15, 2022. 

“This is a proactive measure to ensure that clubs have no issues before heading into the 2023 Super League season,” Sheikh Mohd Nasir said after the FIB meeting today.

Meanwhile, the remaining ten clubs in the Super League and six teams in the Premier League have been successfully granted their national licences.

Previously, MFL had announced that the league would be restructured from next year onwards, with 18 teams to be featured in the Super League compared to the current 12, and the Reserve League introduced in place of the Premier League.

MFL chief executive officer Stuart Ramalingam said the league and FAM are already in discussion to take care of the well-being of both Sarawak United and Melaka United’s players and staff.

“This discussion is done internally between FAM and MFL to make sure we have due process for the justice of the players and officials. 

“We are also in touch with the Professional Footballers Association of Malaysia (PFAM) on the pathway of these players’ claims,” he said. 

In August, several Sarawak United players claimed to have not been paid for four months, forcing them to be evicted from their homes.

PFAM was also urged to set a hearing date at the National Dispute Resolution Chambers regarding salary arrears faced by 17 players from Melaka United. – The Vibes, October 12, 2022