FMLLP seeks La Liga’s help to improve football

JOHOR BARU: Football Malaysia Limited Liability Partnership (FMLLP) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for three years with Spain’s La Liga to boost the development of Malaysian football.

Malaysia is the first country in the Asean region and second in Asia after Japan to have such an agreement with the Spanish League.

The three-year agreement will see the La Liga come up with a long-term blueprint that will help improve the Malaysian football leagues.

FMLLP and La Liga will organise seminars and workshops that focus on sports management, marketing, financial management, stadium security, social and community developments.

La Liga will also initiate players from their leagues to play in Malaysia and they will also set up matches for Malaysia with Spanish teams during the former’s pre-season.

FMLLP chairman Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim, who is also the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) president, said the partnership came to fruition after four months of discussion.

“We’re a young organisation and we need to learn from the best. La Liga runs their leagues in a professional way and that’s very important for us,” said Tunku Ismail.

Tunku Ismail said the blueprint would be the nation’s legacy and it would assist the future FAM president or FMLLP chairman.

“I’ll not hold this position for a long time but I’m genuinely trying to help improve our football leagues. This blueprint will help raise the standard of Malaysian football in the long run,” he said.

Meanwhile, Tunku Ismail also said FMLLP would make an announcement on the broadcasting rights by the end of this month.

He added that FMLLP would not help the Selangor Football Association (FAS) in finding a venue for their home matches as they must find one on their own as it was their responsibility.