Pekan calls for MFL to show some steel for Super League's sake
KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Football League (MFL) must be prepared to make tough and unpopular decisions to ensure that the 2025–2026 Super League gets the support of fans.
Amid the National Licence documentation April 30 deadline, several clubs are still grappling with financial issues. This means the number of Super League teams could be reduced.
Sports analyst Datuk Dr Pekan Ramli said the Super League needs to be free of problematic clubs, and the MFL must act decisively to make the league more competitive in order to attract fans.
"The club licensing deadline is at the end of the month and I hope only the clubs that 'qualify', will play next season. Based on the financial issues commonly associated with M-League clubs, I foresee a reduction in the number of Super League teams," said Pekan.
"The M-League needs clean clubs. The MFL cannot let teams encounter financial trouble mid-season, leaving players and coaches unpaid and compromising the league's competitiveness."
Pekan said the MFL needs to conduct audits or projections based on licensing documentation to assess each club's financial standing and provide guidance for corrective action.
Pekan also said that implementing a salary cap is another step the MFL should consider to prevent clubs from running into debt, especially in line with Financial Fair Play regulations.
He stressed that MFL must also be perceived as fair to all clubs, particularly when it comes to scheduling.
"I believe a salary cap would reduce issues of unreasonable spending by clubs. Players' wages must be realistic. While some parties may be unhappy with this, the MFL must be brave to take unpopular decisions for the survival of Malaysian football," said Pekan.
"These tough decisions could save Malaysian football. The M-League has become too predictable, with a few teams dominating for years while others fall too far behind."
He also called for a change in perception regarding fixture bias, saying fans' complaints are often linked to unfair scheduling.
"There's a perception that the MFL is biased towards certain clubs. Some teams playing in continental or regional competitions naturally face fixture congestion, but scheduling must still be fair.
"We've seen clubs overloaded with fixtures while others have very relaxed schedules. While some congestion is inevitable in modern football, it should be kept to a minimum."
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