KUALA LUMPUR: Selangor will get to use the “home” of their Klang Valley rivals, Kuala Lumpur.
Selangor have secured Kuala Lumpur City Hall's approval to use the Kuala Lumpur Football Stadium in Cheras as their home venue this season.
However, that comes in the face of a warning from Kuala Lumpur FA (KLFA) that City Hall will have to bear responsibility for any damage caused to the pitch through heavy use.
As it stands, Selangor join fellow Super League side Kuala Lumpur and Premier League team Police in using the venue as their home ground this season.
City Hall cleared the stadium for Selangor's use in a letter dated Tuesday and signed by Culture, Arts, Tourism and Sports department director Khairul Anuar Mhd Juri.
Selangor, who play KL in Cheras on Sunday in their opening Super League fixture, will now be able to host games at night, having initially been slotted for an evening kick-off at Selayang Stadium.
FA of Selangor (FAS) general secretary Rosman Ibrahim confirmed receiving City Hall's approval.
"The FA of Selangor would like to confirm that the Kuala Lumpur Football Stadium in Cheras will be our M-League team's home ground for this season after receiving approval from City Hall," said Rosman in a statement.
Selangor initially wanted the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil as their home ground, only to be told by the Malaysia Stadium Corporation that they cannot guarantee the venue's availability throughout the season.
FAS then picked the Selayang Stadium as their next choice but Football Malaysia LLP have not approved the venue for night games due to weak floodlights.
But with the KL Stadium just reopened after being closed for four years for renovation, KLFA general secretary Nokman Mustaffa is concerned that the grass will not stand up to heavy use.
"The pitch is new and we do not want to have too many games played at the stadium because of the chance that it could be damaged," said Nokman.
"If that were to happen, then all three teams will have to find a new venue to play and that will cause all kinds of disruption to the league schedule.
"We have informed City Hall that they would be responsible for having to repair any damage caused to the pitch."