KUALA LUMPUR: The Super League is at a crossroads, with salary issues plaguing clubs and its overall competitiveness on shaky ground.
Despite the implementation of club licensing requirements to ensure financial stability, several teams still struggle to pay players on time, leading to doubts of the league's viability.
As Giorgio Pompili Rossi steps into the role of CEO of the Malaysian Football League (MFL), his priorities will shape the future of the league — and perhaps the entire Malaysian football ecosystem.
Salary woes aren't new, but in the Super League they have become all too common.
Clubs are failing to meet their obligations, and while club licensing is meant to address this, it is clearly not enough.
Rossi needs to enforce financial fair play regulations with real, impactful penalties.
Dock points, disqualify teams and even force relegation for clubs that don't pay up. But it can't all be stick — teams that consistently pay on time and manage their finances wisely should be rewarded with extra grants or financial incentives, creating an environment where good financial behaviour is the norm, not the exception.
Here's the ugly truth: The current 13-team structure isn't working.
Sure, the idea of expanding the league looked good on paper — more teams, more competition — but it has only diluted the quality of football.
Some clubs can't keep up financially, and when they do take the field, the results are lacklustre.
It's like putting up a punching bag for Johor Darul Ta'zim, who dominate year in, year out, leaving the rest to fight for scraps.
Rossi should seriously consider reducing the league to six or eight teams. Yes, it's a drastic move, but it would weed out the weaker clubs that are barely surviving.
A smaller league would mean concentrated talent, fiercer competition and higher-quality football.
Fewer teams would allow for a more competitive four-round home-and-away format, turning each match into a must-watch event. Fans are tired of one or two teams always being at the top — this could bring the balance back.
The foreign player quota in the Super League stands at nine per team, and while having international talent can raise the league's profile, it's stifling the development of local players.
Rossi should slash the foreign player limit to four or five, forcing clubs to give homegrown talent more game time.
The more opportunities local players have, the better the chance Malaysia have of building a stronger national team for the future.
The talent is there, but it needs nurturing on the big stage — and right now, foreign players are hogging that spotlight.
Then there's the issue of the now-defunct Premier League, the second-tier competition.
The decision to disband the Premier League last year was met with mixed reactions, and many have questioned whether its absence has left a void in the development of younger players and smaller clubs.
While the introduction of the MFL Cup was intended to fill this gap, it hasn't produced the desired results, particularly when clubs opt to field senior or foreign players in a tournament meant to nurture Under-23 talent.
Rossi must carefully assess whether reintroducing the Premier League could be a viable option for the future. A robust second division is crucial for nurturing young talent and providing struggling Super League clubs with an alternative competitive platform. However, it should not return without significant restructuring. Any reinstatement of the Premier League must come with strict financial guidelines and a focus on youth development, which is essential for long-term growth in Malaysian football.
A Premier League will also encourage the top finishers in the M3 League to make a step up, which is financially viable compared to the current format. Feeder clubs should play in the M3 League with no opportunities for promotion.
Here's an idea: Why not introduce a promotion and relegation system based on both financial stability and performance? If clubs can't keep up financially, they're dropped to the Premier League to rebuild.
Promotion to the Super League should be earned not just by on-field success, but by running a tight financial ship. This way, the Super League becomes home to not just the best-performing clubs, but also the best-managed ones.
Above all, MFL must work harder to attract more investment into the league, especially from media rights. Each top-tier team should be receiving at least RM5 million in incentives from MFL, apart from prize money.
This would help clubs become sustainable and cover expenses during the opening months of the season while securing more sponsorship.
Rossi's arrival comes at a critical time. The Super League can't continue in its current form.
Financial regulations must be tightened, the league needs downsizing, and the focus has to shift to developing local talent. The decisions he makes now, with MFL's board consent, will determine the future of Malaysian football for years to come.
The task ahead is daunting, but with bold leadership Rossi can turn this crisis into an opportunity.
Malaysian football deserves better — and the Super League must evolve or risk fading into irrelevance.
The time for action is now.