KUALA LUMPUR: “Just ban problematic football management!” Said FA of Malaysia’s (FAM) former disciplinary committee chairman, Kamarudin Abdullah.
This was Kamarudin’s reaction when asked to comment on the best punishment that the Malaysia Football League (MFL) should mete out on Kuantan FA who did not turn up for a match after being bogged down by salary arrears issues since the beginning of the 2018 season.
He explained that in such a mtter, the players cannot be blamed as the payment of salaries is the responsibility of the team’s management and the failure to manage salary payments for months on end is a clear indication that the team’s management is weak and problematic.
“If it comes to the players not wanting to take to the field and play, then it is a very, very serious problem. Of course there has to be some form of stiff, stern punishment as a lesson and deterrent.
“Actually, such weak and problematic team management should be banned from the local football scene. The failures of the team’s management has caused all sorts of problems.
“It is because of woeful management there is the issue of salary arrears owed for months. The players cannot be blamed in such an issue,” he said when contacted earlier today (Tuesday).
Before this, Kuantan FA’s coach, Ismail Zakaria confirmed that the issue of salary arrears owed to the players was the reason why the team did not turn for the match against Police at the Shah Alam Stadium just days ago.
Ismail also explained that he is no longer able to do anything after the players banded together and refused to play their seventh Premier League match.
However, the failure of ‘The Seagulls’ squad to turn up for their Premier League match against ‘The Cops’ last Sunday will prove costly as they face heavy punishment from MFL.
MFL have issued a statement saying that they take such matters very seriously and are ready to hand out a heavy punishment to Kuantan FA by rescinding their participation in the Malaysia League (M-League).
In fact, MFL also stressed that individuals who are responsible for such a mess will also face action to ensure that such culprits can no longer cause problems and create havoc in the local footballing scene.