KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Indian FA (MIFA) have no intention of withdrawing from the Premier League but may have to cease their operations should a fine of RM500,000 not be reduced on appeal.
MIFA are one of 10 teams hit with a total of RM9 million in fines by Football Malaysia LLP (FMLLP) for late or incomplete submission of registration documents.
After FA of Malaysia (FAM) president Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim said on Friday that those teams who want to pull out of the M-League may do so, MIFA president Datuk T. Mohan stressed that his club hoped to avoid having to make that decision, having earlier said the fine may force them to withdraw.
"It is not our intention to withdraw because we want to play football and work for our community but we are a low-budget club which does not have the backing of a state government or a government-linked company," said Mohan.
"If we have to pay the fine, it will be very tough for us to continue even though we have sponsors who want to come onboard.
"We will file our appeal to FMLLP next week and we hope they will consider our situation. Once a decision is made, our executive committee will meet to decide on the way forward."
With a budget of RM6 million for the season, the RM500,000 fine is nearly 10 per cent of MIFA's operating expenditure.
Mohan said the fine is excessive for the late submission of just one document from the Inland Revenue Board.
"We have always kept up to date with our payments to EPF, Socso and income tax," said Mohan.
"We were only late in submitting the income tax document, which took us a week to get.
"It's not like MIFA is behind in payments. I think FMLLP should consider this and reduce the fine."
Mohan did not rule out seeking an audience with Tunku Ismail “to see what we can do."