Football

Pekan raises concern over M-League calendar

KUALA LUMPUR: With less than a month before the Malaysia Cup begins, teams are still waiting for the full fixtures. And the remaining Super League matches are yet to be scheduled.

The M-League has run into problems again. And this has drawn criticism from sports pundit Datuk Dr Pekan Ramli.

"The Malaysian Football League (MFL) altered its calendar to align with the Asian Football Confederation's (AFC) June 2024–June 2025 schedule.

"However, the gaps in the calendar are significant. Some teams play one match and then go weeks without another. It should be more streamlined," said Pekan.

While acknowledging that the M-League calendar must accommodate AFC, Asean and national team's competitions, Pekan feels that the current structure affects the M-League teams' momentum.

"Such inconsistency harms a team's rhythm, which affects their performance in competition. The league's flow should be smoother."

He also raised concerns about the financial strain this uncertainty places on teams, particularly with the increased costs of last-minute logistics and accommodation arrangements.

"Teams are trying to avoid unnecessary expenses. Late bookings are often more expensive, or in some cases, accommodations may be fully booked. The MFL needs to be more accountable. If delays like this happen, teams should be eligible for compensation to cover the increased costs."

Pekan is hoping that the league will be better managed under new MFL chief executive officer, Giorgio Pompili Rossi.

"I am optimistic that with the new CEO in place, the MFL will start operating with greater professionalism," said Pekan.

Rossi has said that the Malaysia Cup fixtures will only be released after the Super League match between Perak and Johor Darul Ta'zim, which was postponed twice due to bad weather.

"The fixtures can only be finalized after the draw, which will take place following the rescheduled match between Perak and JDT," Rossi said.

The match, originally scheduled for Aug 17, was postponed due to unplayable conditions at Perak Stadium following heavy rain. A second attempt to play the match on Oct 5 was also disrupted by bad weather.

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