KUALA LUMPUR: The bad news just keeps coming in for those poor Perlis players.
Just when they thought they could get paid by Perlis FA (PFA) the salaries owing to them, another worry has cropped up.
That is because PFA’s hopes of getting the RM1 million grant from MFL may not materialise following their expulsion from the Premier League.
Earlier, PFA were hoping to get the RM1 million grant and use part of the money to pay their players the salaries owing.
Now, the players’ chances of getting their money are all in the hands of the Malaysia Football League (MFL) who will meet this week whether to release the RM1 million grant to Perlis.
The grant was supposed to be used by PFA to settle the previous season’s salary arrears amounting to RM771,000.
MFL board member Datuk Yusoff Mahadi said the logical move would be to deny Perlis the RM1 million grant as they are no longer in the Premier League.
But he doesn’t rule out the possibility of a positive outcome.
“In my personal view, the players have expected this money (for PFA) to settle the old debts.
“Based on these factors, if we can help (them), what’s wrong with proceeding with it (releasing the RM1 million grant?”
Star striker Safee Sali has quit the Perlis team to join PJ City as he did not get any of his two months’ salaries after playing three Premier League matches for them.
Yusoff urged other teams to take pity on Perlis players by signing them.
Among the victims of the errant PFA are Badhri Radzi, Khyril Muhymeen Zambri and Amiridzwan Taj.
“The players are just victims, and if the other teams can help, then it’s good.”
As for the fates of the Perlis’ President’s Cup, Youth Cup and futsal teams, Yusoff said the MFL committee had rejected PFA’s earlier registration in youth level competitions.
“They don’t have enough players in the first place.”
Last Wednesday, MFL cancelled Perlis’ participation in the Premier League after examining PFA’s financial documents.