KUALA LUMPUR: The FA of Malaysia (FAM) says club owners are not allowed to withhold or deduct players' wages due to poor performance in the M-League.
Kelantan FC owner Norizam Tukiman is reported to have withheld half of his players' salaries as Kelantan languishes in the 13th spot out of 14 teams in the Super League table. They have suffered 10 defeats, and only one win and one draw so far.
Norizam is also reported to have said the players would get their full pay when they started winning matches.
Upon checking Fifa regulations, FAM legal committee deputy chairman Syed Yazid Syed Omar said teams were not allowed to withhold or deduct salaries due to poor performance.
He said a team also could not terminate a player's contract for the same reason.
"I have checked with FAM's legal department, and there are no such regulations," said Syed Yazid.
"Clubs must pay wages according to the contracts."
He added that a club was allowed to issue three warning letters followed by termination if a player had disciplinary issues,
"However, the termination must be done mutually. You cannot terminate a player's contract due to poor performance.
"To sack a player, the club must do so mutually with compensation.
"A player can leave for other clubs if he does not receive his salary for two months. However, he has to give a 15-day notice.