THREE TEAMS WARNED
Melaka, Police, Kelantan told to settle salaries
EVEN before the new M-League season kicks off on Jan 28, three teams have been issued warning letters by FAM. Super League’s Melaka and Police and Premier League’s Kelantan will also have to worry what might happen to them off the field following the FAM warning.
FAM have told the three errant teams that they must settle their outstanding salaries (totalling RM2.5 million from last season) with players and officials by Jan 31).
Failing which the three teams must come up with a special plan to settle their debt by Jan 31.
The three teams should bear in mind that Perlis were expelled by FAM from the Premier League last season when they failed to pay their players.
FAM have made it clear that if these teams do not meet the first deadline (Jan 31) in making payments, they will be docked three points. And if they fail again by the second deadline (Feb 28), it’s another six points forfeited.
If they still couldn’t pay by the third deadline (March 30), Melaka, Police and Kelantan will be kicked out of the M-League.
The responses from the three teams? They do not seem too worried and expect things to get solved.
Melaka United Soccer Association (MUSA) secretary general Farhan Ibrahim said he was glad to disclose that they had made payments to those who played for them last season.
“We settled it on Wednesday evening (salary arrears of the local players for 2019).
“Now it’s only the foreign players and team officials for the 2019 squad who haven’t been paid,” he said.
But Farhan admitted that MUSA still have about RM1.25 million owing to players and officials.
“It will be done before January 30. As of yesterday evening, we have paid close to RM1 million.”
Police FA secretary general Zulkefly Yahya admitted they still owe 12 persons money.
“We’ve owed them since June and it amounts to close to RM1 million,” he said.
“We have sponsors coming in and we are optimistic that we will be able to settle the debts. There shouldn’t be any issues.”
Kelantan, who are said to owe only two or three players, expect to overcome their debt problem before the FAM deadline.
“We are confident we will be able to settle it, because this can be done even tomorrow or the following day.
“We are just waiting for the confirmation signature on a couple of documents to settle the salary arrears,” said Kelantan FA secretary general Hussin Deraman.
“In total, we have 19 cases amounting to close to RM2 million but we have settled most of them.”