Latest news with #ACL2
New Straits Times
2 days ago
- Sport
- New Straits Times
Selangor FC were not scammed, just unlucky, says club official
KUALA LUMPUR: Selangor FC's underperforming imports during the 2024-25 M-League season have triggered accusations from fans that the club had fallen victim to scammers. However, technical committee chairman Datuk Seri Shahril Mokhtar has dismissed the claims, insisting the Red Giants were simply "unlucky". "We didn't get scammed, but we were unlucky. Other clubs have gone through the same thing. The players had good profiles, but when they came here, they failed to live up to expectations," he said. "We are now targeting younger foreign signings for the new season." Looking ahead to the 2025-26 campaign, Selangor are planning a major squad overhaul, having released a long list of local and foreign players, along with several members of the coaching staff, following the end of the league last month. Confirmed departures include Ronnie Fernandez, Ali Olwan, captain Safuwan Baharudin, Khairulazhan Khalid and Khuzaimie Piee. "We believe these players can't take Selangor any further. "We failed to win any major cups or make an impact in the Asian Champions League 2 (ACL2) last season. "It's time for a big change, especially with the foreigners. We need to find better imports," said Shahril. "We're looking for new foreign players, but we won't be filling the full quota of 15. That's for sure, as we need to assess our financial capabilities." Shahril admitted the upcoming season will be a monumental challenge. Besides the Super League, FA Cup and Malaysia Cup, the Red Giants will also play in the ACL2 and the Asean Club Championship (ACC). Despite a congested fixture list, Selangor will not be appealing to the Malaysian Football League (MFL) for additional player registrations, with the current cap set at 34. "The number of players remains unchanged, so we just have to find better-quality players," he said. "This time, we're hoping luck is on our side. "Last season, we were unfortunate with so many injuries. I hope we can overcome that moving forward," Shahril added. Selangor finished runners-up in both the Super League and FA Cup, losing out to Johor Darul Ta'zim on both occasions last season. They crashed out in the Malaysia Cup round of 16 and failed to progress beyond the ACL2 group stage.
The Sun
4 days ago
- Business
- The Sun
MFL confident of smooth, problem free 2025/26 Super League season
THE 2025/2026 Super League season is expected to run smoothly without financial issues following the tightening of the Financial Fair Play (FFP) system by the Malaysia Football League (MFL). MFL President Datuk Ab Ghani Hassan said the implementation of new financial monitoring software through the FFP system will have a significant impact in ensuring that only financially stable teams are eligible to compete. 'We control it through FFP. Previously it was usually six months but now it's three months, we will constantly monitor. But as I said from the beginning, declare your budget. 'That is important, and God willing, I am confident and believe it can be done, there will be no problems (for the 2025/2026 season),' he said after a joint meeting with the State Football Associations (FA) & a meeting with Football Clubs (FC) at Wisma FAM, here, today. According to him, financial monitoring is no longer done periodically as before, but continuously and in real-time through the newly introduced FFP system. Commenting on the issue of signing up to 15 foreign players in one team, which could ensnare clubs in a financial crisis, he explained that each team will be monitored based on their actual capabilities. 'If you can only afford five, then take five. Don't follow your desires. We will advise and control. What's important is that they must honestly declare their budget from the start. We don't want to repeat the same episode every year,' he said. MFL previously announced that they would standardize the player registration limit to 30 for all clubs, including those competing in the AFC Champions League Elite (ACLE) and AFC Champions League 2 (ACL2). Previously, ACLE and ACL2 clubs were allowed to register 34 players, while other clubs only 32 players. The same meeting also agreed to allow all clubs to register a maximum of 15 foreign players, with a quota of nine players on the field (including substitutes) consisting of four open, one Asian, and two ASEAN players. The Malaysia League now has a new look with the full implementation of FFP, which limits club salary expenditure to a maximum of 80 percent of their annual budget for the 2025-2026 season.
The Sun
4 days ago
- Business
- The Sun
MFL confident of a smooth and problem free 2025/2026 Super League season
THE 2025/2026 Super League season is expected to run smoothly without financial issues following the tightening of the Financial Fair Play (FFP) system by the Malaysia Football League (MFL). MFL President Datuk Ab Ghani Hassan said the implementation of new financial monitoring software through the FFP system will have a significant impact in ensuring that only financially stable teams are eligible to compete. 'We control it through FFP. Previously it was usually six months but now it's three months, we will constantly monitor. But as I said from the beginning, declare your budget. 'That is important, and God willing, I am confident and believe it can be done, there will be no problems (for the 2025/2026 season),' he said after a joint meeting with the State Football Associations (FA) & a meeting with Football Clubs (FC) at Wisma FAM, here, today. According to him, financial monitoring is no longer done periodically as before, but continuously and in real-time through the newly introduced FFP system. Commenting on the issue of signing up to 15 foreign players in one team, which could ensnare clubs in a financial crisis, he explained that each team will be monitored based on their actual capabilities. 'If you can only afford five, then take five. Don't follow your desires. We will advise and control. What's important is that they must honestly declare their budget from the start. We don't want to repeat the same episode every year,' he said. MFL previously announced that they would standardize the player registration limit to 30 for all clubs, including those competing in the AFC Champions League Elite (ACLE) and AFC Champions League 2 (ACL2). Previously, ACLE and ACL2 clubs were allowed to register 34 players, while other clubs only 32 players. The same meeting also agreed to allow all clubs to register a maximum of 15 foreign players, with a quota of nine players on the field (including substitutes) consisting of four open, one Asian, and two ASEAN players. The Malaysia League now has a new look with the full implementation of FFP, which limits club salary expenditure to a maximum of 80 percent of their annual budget for the 2025-2026 season.
Straits Times
6 days ago
- Sport
- Straits Times
Song Ui-young gets Lions recall after year-long absence due to family matters
Song Ui-young is looking forward to linking up with the Lions again. ST PHOTO: BRIAN TEO SINGAPORE – It has been nearly a year since Song Ui-young last played for the Lions in the 7-0 home defeat by South Korea, his country of birth, on June 6, 2024. But the 31-year-old, who had been unavailable during the intervening international windows due to family matters, is now back in the Lions' fold. On May 29, the Lion City Sailors midfielder was named in a 23-man Singapore squad for a June 5 friendly against Maldives at Bishan Stadium and an Asian Cup qualifier against Bangladesh in Dhaka five days later. Fit-again Ikhsan Fandi and Taufik Suparno are among other key players recalled to the squad, while Shawal Anuar misses out because of a medical procedure scheduled during the international window. In a Football Association of Singapore statement, Song said he is looking forward to linking up with the Lions again, adding: 'I've had urgent family matters to attend to and I'm relieved that I've managed to get across that challenge – and grateful that I've been afforded space to be present for my family.' Dispelling rumours that his prolonged absence from the Lions squad was due to animosity between him and national coach Tsutomu Ogura, Song shared with The Straits Times that he had gone through a gamut of emotions in the past year. His mother had suffered a stroke at the end of 2023 and went through brain surgery in Incheon without him knowing. 'My family hid this from me as they didn't want me to worry too much and be distracted while I'm playing football abroad,' said Song, whose father died when he was a baby and has a sister who has three children. 'When I found out my mother wasn't healthy, I started to think about many things. I've been in Singapore for 12 years and I didn't really look after my family, especially my mother, and she was staying alone when she suffered the stroke. 'I felt bad that I didn't take care of her. So, I decided it's time to take care of my mum and spend more time with my family.' In 2021, Song Ui-young became the first South Korea-born player to be naturalised for the Lions. ST PHOTO: BRIAN TEO Fortunately, she is out of danger now, although she needs to be on medication for the rest of her life to keep her condition under control. His family also flew to Singapore to watch the Asian Football Confederation Champions League Two (ACL2) final on May 18, when Emirati club Sharjah FC defeated the Sailors 2-1. He said: 'They witnessed the moments and they met many people here who have a connection with me and they heard all my stories and achievements, which is different from when she hears it from me. They are happy and proud of me, and this makes me happy. 'My mother has a strong character, and although she has always been supportive of me, it must not have been easy to send her only son overseas when I was just 18.' The highlight of playing in a continental final seemed like a full circle as Song left his family in Incheon for Singapore at a tender age to pursue a professional football career. He first joined the youth team of Home United, the predecessor of the privatised Sailors, scored 12 goals in 16 Prime League games, before he broke through to the senior side. With Home, he chalked up 184 games, 47 goals and 23 assists, before clocking 103 appearances, 44 goals and 11 assists for the Sailors across two spells. In between, he also had stints with Nongbua Pitchaya in Thailand and Persebaya Surabaya in Indonesia. In 2021, he became the first South Korea-born player to be naturalised for the Lions. Despite a regret of not being able to join Daegu FC in the K-League when there was an offer in 2022 while he was contracted to the Sailors, Song is happy with the career he has had. 'I never imagined this. When I came to Singapore at 18, it was all about survival and I was desperate to impress,' said Song, who has racked up 12 goals and five assists in 46 appearances for the Sailors this season. 'So, I really appreciate the career I have and want to continue to achieve more with my club and country.' Before he reports for Lions' training on June 3, there is a chance to notch a domestic double as the Sailors, who clinched the Singapore Premier League title on May 10, wrap up a year-long domestic season in the Singapore Cup final against BG Tampines Rovers at the Jalan Besar Stadium on May 31. Song said: 'After losing the ACL2 final, everyone at the club felt a big frustration. But now, because we already lost a final, we have a huge motivation to lift another trophy.' Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
New Straits Times
25-05-2025
- Sport
- New Straits Times
Selangor welcome 'extra foreign firepower' for new season
KUALA LUMPUR: With Selangor fighting on three fronts next season, they will need a lot of firepower — especially from overseas. So, the Malaysian Football League's decision to increase the foreign player quota from 12 to 15 is welcomed by the Red Giants. It is going to be taxing for Selangor — competing in the M-League, Asian Champions League 2 (ACL2) and Asean Club Championship (ACC). Selangor technical committee chairman Datuk Seri Shahril Mokhtar sees the increased foreign quota for the new M-League season as timely. "Last season, we registered 12 imports. This time, we are allowed 15, which is a good option to have, especially when you consider the increase in match-day slots," said Shahril. "We welcome this flexibility. But it doesn't mean we'll automatically sign all 15. We need to consider our budget, and more importantly, the quality of players available." Shahril believed this move will benefit clubs like Selangor and Johor Darul Ta'zim (JDT), given their continental commitments. However, he acknowledged that not every team are in a position to fully utilise the new quota. "If a team can afford it and have the depth, go ahead. But if not, there's no pressure to hit that number. "As for us, we're still evaluating. It might stay at 12, or it might change depending on what the team need," he said. Shahril admitted that the 2025-2026 campaign will be hectic for Selangor, who earned their ACC spot as Super League runners-up. "It's going to be a packed year for us, the league, ACL2, and now the Asean Club Championship. But we are looking forward to this. "We're excited to compete at the regional level and hopefully make the country proud. Both Selangor and JDT will carry this responsibility," he added.
