Dato’ Ab Ghani Hassan has acknowledged growing challenges within Malaysian football but remains optimistic that structural reforms and collective effort can restore long-term stability following a high-level CEO roundtable meeting led by the Malaysian Football League (MFL).
Speaking to the media after the session, Ab Ghani described the discussions as “full of ideas and surprises,” with clubs openly sharing concerns and proposals aimed at addressing the current state of the domestic league.
At the heart of the discussions was the financial health of clubs, with several teams continuing to grapple with debt and delayed salary payments.
Ab Ghani admitted that some of these issues are rooted in past mismanagement:
“Some clubs are not facing problems from this season’s budget, but from previous debts they are still carrying. That’s why their finances are strained.”
Despite quarterly audits under Financial Fair Play (FFP) regulations, challenges persist—highlighting the need for stricter monitoring and better financial discipline across the league.
The MFL chief remains confident that the implementation of FFP will gradually resolve these issues.
“This is the first full season of FFP. I believe within two to three seasons, clubs will achieve financial stability and salary issues will no longer be a major concern.”
He revealed that MFL has gone beyond standard auditing by introducing monthly financial checks and direct engagement with club CEOs to ensure compliance and early intervention.
During the meeting, four critical pillars were highlighted as essential to elevating Malaysian football: Player and youth development, Infrastructure improvements (stadiums, pitches, lighting), Sponsorship and commercial growth, and Financial discipline.
Ab Ghani acknowledged that shortcomings in these areas have contributed to the league’s current struggles—but also sees them as opportunities for reform.
Interestingly, fan engagement has shown encouraging signs. According to MFL data, stadium attendance and viewership have increased significantly in recent seasons. However, Ab Ghani stressed that more must be done to convert that interest into sustainable revenue.
“Clubs must find ways to bring fans back to the stadium—through community engagement, events, and better matchday experiences.”
Among the ideas discussed was a potential shift toward subscription-based broadcast models to boost league revenue.
While no decisions have been made, Ab Ghani confirmed that clubs have been tasked with studying the proposal before further discussions.
Responding to criticism about the league’s operations, Ab Ghani accepted that improvements are needed:
“We agree there are weaknesses, especially in development, infrastructure, and financial discipline. We will take this positively and improve.”
He emphasized that negative headlines surrounding club instability could deter sponsors—making it crucial for all stakeholders to work together to protect the league’s image.
While expressing hope that struggling clubs can recover, Ab Ghani confirmed that MFL has contingency plans should situations worsen.
“We always have a Plan B. But we hope it won’t be needed.”
Credit Photo : Simon Yap/SNE-Photo
