FAM ISSUE ULTIMATUM

Pahang given until Thursday to decide on taking part in AFC Cup or else...

PAHANG FA have until Thursday to reconsider their decision not to replace Kedah as Malaysia’s representatives to the AFC Cup or face the consequences.

FA of Malaysia (FAM) president Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim said on Thursday that Pahang may be referred to the disciplinary committee for action if they stood by their original decision.

However, FAM have given Pahang a new deadline to reverse the course, said FAM general secretary Datuk Hamidin Amin.

FAM nominated Pahang as replacements for FA Cup winners Kedah, who do not have the required AFC licence to play in continental competitions.

When asked how long Pahang have been given to change their minds, Hamidin said: “They have until Nov 30 (Thursday) to decide.

“We cannot nominate a team other than Pahang to replace Kedah because the Asian Football Confederation does not allow it.”

AFC are adamant that only the top two teams from the Super League or the domestic cup champions be allowed into the AFC Cup.

This rules out other teams such as Selangor or PKNS, who both have AFC licences, from being nominated.

Should Pahang again reject the offer to play in the AFC Cup, FAM fear it could affect Malaysian clubs’ future participation in AFC competitions.

AFC will give Malaysia’s second slot in the AFC Cup to another country with no guarantee that the berth will be returned in the future.

Pahang cited financial constraints and a desire to focus on domestic competitions in rejecting the chance to play in the AFC Cup, in which they last featured in 2015 when they reached the quarter-finals.

However, Tunku Ismail chided Pahang for spurning this rare opportunity and said they could have given their younger players a chance to play.

“What is the point of having an AFC licence when you reject the chance to play in the competition?” said Tunku Ismail on Thursday.

“It appears that to them international competition is not important and they prefer to be ‘jaguh kampung’.”

Pahang coach Dollah Salleh declined comment, saying that he is still serving a suspension imposed by FAM.