Latest news with #AFCChampionsLeagueElite
The Sun
3 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
3 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.
Saudi Gazette
5 days ago
- Sport
- Saudi Gazette
Salem Al Dawsari wins Best Saudi Player award for 2024–25 season
Saudi Gazette report RIYADH — Salem Al Dawsari has been named Best Saudi Player of the 2024–25 Roshn Saudi League season, capping off a stellar campaign that reaffirmed his status as one of the most influential players in Saudi football. The Roshn League announced the award on Wednesday, highlighting that the Al Hilal winger delivered arguably the best season of his career. Al Dawsari was directly involved in 30 goals between scoring and assisting, despite his team falling short of silverware this year. Known for his technical skill, vision, and leadership, Al Dawsari remained a constant threat in attack and a stabilizing force in the dressing room. His performances helped steady Al Hilal during a season of mixed results, keeping the club competitive through pivotal matches. The 32-year-old has long been a cornerstone of both club and country. He was a standout for Saudi Arabia in the 2022 FIFA World Cup and is expected to play a key role in the national team's 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign, as well as Hilal's upcoming AFC Champions League Elite participation. This latest individual accolade adds to Al Dawsari's already decorated résumé and reinforces his reputation as one of the top talents of the past decade in Saudi football.
The Hindu
26-05-2025
- Sport
- The Hindu
Ronaldo's goal in vain as Al Nassr loses to Al Fateh in final game of Saudi Pro League 2024-25
Al Nassr's already disappointing season ended on a worser note when Al Fateh defeated it 3-2 in their final Saudi Pro League 2024-25 match at the Prince Abdullah bin Jalawi Stadium on Monday. The result meant that Cristiano Ronaldo and Co. finished third in the points table, missing out on a spot in next year's AFC Champions League Elite and instead will play in the AFC Champions League 2. Al Nassr had come into the game with slight hopes of getting an ACL Elite spot after, earlier in the day, the Saudi Arabia Football Federation announced that it had won an appeal to be handed three points. It lost 2-1 to Al Orubah in March but complained that goalkeeper Rafi Al-Ruwaili was ineligible to play in the game because he was not a full-time professional. But in the end, even if Al Nassr had managed to beat Al Fateh, it would have stayed in third place as Al Hilal beat Al Qadisiyah 2-0 to cement the second spot, behind champion Al-Ittihad. The top two will play in the first tier of the continental competition next season, along with current ACL Elite champion Al-Ahly. Al Fateh completes late comeback The rumours of this game being his last with Al Nassr did not seem to affect his performance as Ronaldo opened the scoring in the 42nd minute. Ayman Yahya played a corner in from the left, which was flicked into the six-yard box by Mohammed Al-Fatil. Ronaldo was at the right place at the right time to easily tap in for his 25th goal in the league this season. ALSO READ | How can Cristiano Ronaldo and Al Nassr face Mohun Bagan in AFC Champions League? However, the lead did not last long as, on the brink of the half-time whistle, Matias Vargas had an equally easy finish in front of goal after meeting a lovely cross from the left side of the box from Mohamed Amine Sbai. Al Nassr retook its lead in the 75th minute when Ronaldo went on a run with the ball from the middle of the pitch to the opposition's box before laying it off to Nawaf Boushal on the right side. The right-back precisely found Mane on the edge of the six-yard box, with the Senegalese forward promptly dispatching it into the back of the net. Once again, the lead lasted only a while as Al Fateh's Mourad Batna scored a stunning free kick. The Moroccan went for the goalkeeper's side and slammed the ball with his left foot into the top left corner, leaving a stretching Bento no chance of making a save. With nine minutes of added time announced, Al Fateh took the lead for the first time through a fast break. Vargas ran the length of Al Nassr's half before finding Matheus Machdo Ferreira on the edge of the box. His first attempt was parried onto the right post by Bento, however, the ball came right back to Ferreira, who made made no mistake this time of finding the bottom right corner to take all three points.
Saudi Gazette
26-05-2025
- Sport
- Saudi Gazette
Rúben Neves slams points ruling in favor of Al Nassr, says Al Hilal belongs in elite competitions
Saudi Gazette report RIYADH — Al Hilal midfielder Rúben Neves voiced his frustration over the Saudi Pro League's decision to award Al Nassr three points following their successful protest against Al Orobah. He called the situation 'a shame' and insisting that Al Hilal earned their spot in next season's AFC Champions League Elite on merit. Speaking to SSC following Al Hilal's final league win, the Portuguese international drew a sharp comparison: 'You don't see Real Madrid playing in the Europa League. Al Hilal is the same — we play in the elite. After missing out on the league title, our goal was to qualify for the AFC Champions League Elite, and we secured that last week.' Neves added: 'The league wanted to give three points to Al Nassr, so we had to win today. I heard they drew or lost — we're happy about that.' He criticized the league's handling of the decision, saying, 'It's not good for the competition. It's a shame. I don't see this happening anywhere else. But it is what it is — we had to win, and we did. That's our job.' Looking ahead, the former Wolves captain made it clear where his ambitions lie: 'Now we focus on the Club World Cup and next season. We'll play for the big trophies — that's always our aim. And hopefully, there will be no more off-field stories next time.'
