KUALA LUMPUR – The Malaysian Football League (MFL) has vowed to enforce Financial Fair Play (FFP) regulations against local clubs failing to pay coaches’ salaries.
This commitment follows comments by Football Coaches Association of Malaysia (FCAM) president Datuk Ong Kim Swee, who told Scoop they are ready to collaborate with MFL to address salary issues for local coaches by next year.
It is understood that coaches in the M-League are said to be less vocal than players about delayed payments, fearing job security risks. To protect them, Kim Swee has withheld the names of those affected.
MFL CEO Giorgio Pompili Rossi stressed the need to treat unpaid coaches’ salaries with the same urgency as players’.
“I completely agree with Kim Swee’s suggestion, and yes, we are ready to collaborate and work together to resolve this issue. Coaches, like footballers, deserve to be paid for their services.
“MFL will ensure strict adherence to the FFP rules and monitor all payments for the clubs’ coaching staff. All outstanding payments must be cleared within the next few months.
“Strict action will definitely be taken against clubs that fail to comply. In fact, the clubs are fully aware of this matter.
“We have been actively advocating for change but have not seen the progress we expect. Moving forward, we will no longer tolerate,” said Giorgio when contacted.
The FFP framework, introduced this season, allows for sanctions such as transfer bans and point deductions against clubs failing to pay salaries on time.
One notable case involved Sarawak United, which owed RM345,000 in salary arrears to former head coach B. Sathianathan during the 2022 Super League season.
The club was dissolved after failing to secure a Super League licence. — November 22, 2024
