Appeal granted - MFL to reduce penalty on seven teams

PETALING JAYA: The Malaysia Football League (MFL) have decided to reduce the penalty on seven M-League teams who failed to meet the 2019 season registration deadline.

The teams are Super League outfits Kuala Lumpur, Felda United and Melaka while the other four are Premier League teams Kelantan, Police, Sarawak and Penang.

They were initially slapped with a 50% reduction on their annual grant for their poor financial management on April 23 but the MFL have opted to reduce their punishment following an appeal.

Now, the annual grant for KL, Felda, Police and Penang will be reduced by just 5% for the 2019 season while the grant for Melaka, Sarawak and Kelantan will be reduced by 10%.

KL, Felda, Police and Penang provided their financial documents for the 2019 season and documents proving that they have settled their players’ salary arrears.

Melaka, Sarawak and Kelantan have yet to provide statements from the Employees Provident Fund, Social Security Organisation and the Inland Revenue Board. Some of them have yet to submit their debt repayment plans and their budget for 2019.

The MFL reiterated that the transfer ban on Kelantan and Sarawak in the second transfer window which opens from May 2-29 remains as they are repeat offenders.

The board, however, accepted the appeals from KL, Penang and Police and have lifted the transfer ban.

However, Melaka, Sarawak and Kelantan will be docked three points if they fail to provide the relevant documents before the May 22 deadline.