Malaysian Football League (MFL) confirm still maintain a quota of nine imported players in the registration for the 2024/25 season although the AFC is expected to announce the rule of unlimited foreign players for AFC club competitions.
However, MFL explain addition only teams that competing in the AFC competition namely the AFC Champions League Elite (ACLE) and ACL 2 as well as the ASEAN club competition (AFF) are allowed to register an additional one (1) import player.
“However, after receiving requests from several MFL clubs and getting approval from other Malaysian League clubs, the MFL announced the addition of a quota of one imported player on the field for the 2024-2025 season.
“This means that the quota for the 2024-2025 season agreed by all teams is 6 imported players (ie 4+1 (Asia)+1 (Asean)) allowed to be on the field at any one time with one player on the bench.
“Although the MFL accepted the request of the Malaysian League clubs, the MFL nevertheless reminded all clubs to take imported players according to their suitability and financial ability,” explained the MFL.
With the Malaysia League calendar extended this season to allow for the transition of domestic league competition to the AFC calendar format, the MFL also announced that only the round of 16 of the FA Cup will remain played as a one-game round-robin while the quarter-finals and semi-finals of the FA Cup will be changed to a round-robin format ( home & away).
The 2024-2025 FA Cup competition will involve the participation of 2023 Super League clubs and 2 M3 clubs that will be selected by the Amateur Football League (AFL).
The MFL Cup will use a one-group league format instead of the two-group format used in 2023. This format change is seen to provide more matches for the players and also as requested by the clubs to increase the readiness and exposure of under-23 players ( B23) before being absorbed into a Super League team at any time.
In order to increase the competitiveness and intensity of the MFL Cup competition, the quota of over-age players and foreign players in this competition will also be open to be used according to the needs and arrangements of each club with a maximum of 3 foreign players and 2 over-age players on the field at any one time.
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