Malaysian Football League (MFL) has issued a comprehensive response to a memorandum circulated by a group of supporters to Malaysia League clubs, addressing growing questions surrounding player registration, the increase in local-player quotas and the registration situation involving Kuala Lumpur City FC.
MFL said it respects the right of supporters and other stakeholders to raise concerns, but stressed that its decisions have been made based on established regulations, official documentation and the applicable competition processes.
The league governing body addressed three major issues in its latest statement.
On questions surrounding the registration of naturalized and heritage players, MFL stressed that the two categories have different statuses and verification processes.
For Malaysian League registration purposes, a player who holds Malaysian citizenship and provides valid identification documents may be registered as a local player, subject to the league’s registration rules and requirements.
MFL pointed to Article 4.5.9 of the Malaysia League Manual 2025-2026, as well as Article 3 under the FAM Player and Official Registration and Transfer System and the FAM MYPAS (FIFA CONNECT) system.
Those regulations require clubs to submit valid identification documents, including a copy of a Malaysian identity card or passport, for player registration.
MFL said the same requirements were also communicated to all Malaysia League clubs through a circular dated June 12, 2025.
According to the league, the players questioned in the memorandum were confirmed as Malaysian citizens holding valid identity cards.
As a result, they were registered as local players in accordance with the registration regulations that were in force at the time.
MFL added that the matter had also been explained to representatives of Malaysia League clubs during the MFL Discussion Council with Malaysia League Partners 2025-2026 on April 29, 2026.
Furthermore, MFL said its position on the recognition of the players as locals was supported by clarification from the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) through AFC General Secretary Datuk Seri Windsor Paul John in a statement issued on March 13, 2026.
Another major issue raised in the memorandum concerned MFL’s decision to increase the number of local-player registration slots for the 2026-2027 season.
MFL confirmed that the decision to add five local-player quotas was made by the MFL Board of Directors after receiving applications from Kuching City FC and Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT).
Although the initial requests came from those two clubs, the Board subsequently decided to make the additional quota available to all Malaysia League clubs.
MFL said the decision was intended to ensure greater consistency and balance among participating clubs while creating additional opportunities for Malaysian players to be registered and compete for places in their respective squads.
Importantly, the decision was made while the first player-registration window for the 2026-2027 season was still open.
The registration window eventually closed on September 3, 2026, meaning all clubs had time to assess their squad requirements and utilise the additional five slots.
MFL therefore rejected any suggestion that the additional quota was created to favour particular clubs, stressing that the measure was opened to the entire league.
The most detailed portion of the MFL statement concerned Kuala Lumpur City FC, whose registration problems ultimately contributed to the postponement and subsequent decision surrounding their Super League fixture against Negeri Sembilan FC.
MFL said it had been informed in advance that KL City were working to resolve a FIFA case involving a player-registration ban, with the club hoping to have the restriction lifted before their scheduled Unifi Liga Super match against Negeri Sembilan at Stadium Tuanku Abdul Rahman, Paroi, on August 22, 2026.
MFL said it continued to give KL City an opportunity to resolve the situation because the club was still working through the FIFA process.
However, the match could not proceed after KL City submitted an urgent request to MFL at 12.40pm on August 22, reporting that 13 players and two team officials had been affected by an influenza outbreak.
According to player-registration records in MyPAS on August 22, KL City had registered only 12 players — 11 outfield players and one goalkeeper.
Because the club had delayed resolving its outstanding FIFA-related salary case, it had not been able to register enough replacement players after several registered players became unavailable because of influenza.
MFL stressed that the regulations require clubs to maintain a sufficient squad for competition.
With KL City unable to field the required squad, the MFL Board ruled that Negeri Sembilan FC were awarded a 3-0 victory and three points for the match.
KL City were also fined RM50,000, in addition to being ordered to pay compensation and relevant costs determined by MFL.
MFL cited Article 4.5.7(i) of the Competition Regulations, which requires clubs to register between 15 and 20 players in their Team List, including at least two goalkeepers.
At the same time, an MFL circular dated June 29, 2026 required every club to register a minimum of 20 players, including three goalkeepers, before playing their first league match of the 2026-2027 campaign.
The situation subsequently developed when KL City submitted an official request for special approval after informing MFL that they had settled outstanding payments owed to two former foreign players.
The club submitted an official letter dated August 24, 2026, accompanied by proof of payment.
However, despite making the payments, KL City were still waiting for FIFA to approve the withdrawal of the player-registration ban.
MFL said the club therefore remained in a transitional situation while awaiting FIFA’s decision.
After reviewing the circumstances and KL City’s application, the MFL Board agreed to grant the club special approval to register a minimum of 12 players for their Super League fixture against Kuching City FC on August 26, 2026, at the Kuala Lumpur Football Stadium in Cheras.
MFL emphasised that this was a special approval based on the specific circumstances of the case.
It did not mean that the standard player-registration requirements had been changed or waived across the Malaysia League.
That distinction is particularly important as MFL attempts to address questions over why KL City were subsequently permitted to compete despite failing to meet the normal squad-registration threshold.
Credit Photo : UltraSel
