KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia looks to a former La Liga delegate, Giorgio Pompili Rossi, to get its troubled football league back on its feet.
Rossi, who was appointed the new CEO of the Malaysian Football League (MFL) on Sept 5, has his work cut out for him.
He is taking over a league, stymied by struggling clubs and non-stop cases of unpaid salaries to players.
The Italian, who held his first press conference today in Petaling Jaya, acknowledged the complexity of the M-League problems.
Rossi said he plans to reform the M-League's financial framework and club licensing criteria.
He said there will be a comprehensive review of the league's structure, with the goal of addressing the underlying issues that contribute to financial distress among clubs.
"We will examine the current club licencing criteria and the league's structure to determine if the multiple levels of teams are affecting financial stability. However, I do not believe this is the sole cause of the distress," said Rossi.
He stressed the need for a long-term strategy to ensure financial sustainability within the league.
"Our goal is to develop a robust financial management plan, but this will take time. We must find the right formula to make the league more resilient."
Rossi also addressed concerns about existing sanctions and penalties for clubs facing financial difficulties. He noted that while these measures are part of the regulatory process, they are not a complete solution.
Despite the challenges, Rossi highlighted a positive note - no M-League clubs have reached the point of being forced to withdraw from the competition, and he hopes to prevent such scenarios.
Rossi intends to reassess the club licencing criteria, which currently require Super League teams to have representations in the Reserve League, Youth Cup, and President's Cup. The structure of the league itself will also be reviewed to enhance competitiveness and alleviate financial pressures on clubs.
"It's too early to announce any specific adjustments, but we are committed to exploring all options to improve the league's financial health," said Rossi.