FOREIGN players will be back in action in the M-League next season.
The FA of Malaysia (FAM) accepted its local competitions committee's proposal to lift the ban on imports.
FAM deputy president Tengku Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah said yesterday each team will be allowed two signings.
"But this is optional. Those who can't afford it can opt for an all-local side. We feel the presence of foreign players will make local teams more competitive, especially in Asian-level club tournaments," said Tengku Abdullah at Wisma FAM in Kelana Jaya yesterday.
"It is our way of elevating the status of the M-League. Only teams with good financial backing should hire foreign players. We have set specific criteria on the hiring of players to ensure the quality of the local league is not compromised."
M-League teams can hire only national players from the Southeast Asian region and Asian players who are playing Division One football in Asian Football Confederation-affiliated countries.
The condition for non-Asian players is that only those playing at least in Division Two of a specific league outside Asia will be allowed.
This is the third time since the introduction of the Semi-Pro League in 1989 that foreign players have been allowed back into the local league.
The first ban, introduced in 1999 as a result of the Asian financial crisis, was revoked three years later. But FAM decided to bar foreign players in 2009.
FAM has also decided that next season's format will keep its status quo. The Super League will remain as a 14-team competition while the Premier League will comprise 12 teams.
This means Premier League champions PKNS and runners-up Sarawak will both play top-tier football next season without going through a play-off round. Pahang and Perlis, the bottom two clubs in this season's Super League, will feature in the Premier League next season.
Singapore's Young Lions will replace Young Tigers A in next season's Super League as part of the exchange programme with the Football Association of Singapore. Tigers A, under Ong Kim Swee, will make their debut in the S-League.
Tengku Abdullah said a new format will be introduced in the 2013 season.
"We may opt to reduce the number of teams in the Super League from 14 to either 12 or 10. It will be decided before December," said Tengku Abdullah, who added that FAM will continue to look at improvising the M-League from time to time.
The 16-team Malaysia Cup draw will be conducted on Aug 3. Tigers A will be exempted from the tournament. Pahang and Sime Darby will play a two-leg tie on July 19 and July 22 with the winners replacing Tigers A in the Malaysia Cup.
The FA of Malaysia (FAM) accepted its local competitions committee's proposal to lift the ban on imports.
FAM deputy president Tengku Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah said yesterday each team will be allowed two signings.
"But this is optional. Those who can't afford it can opt for an all-local side. We feel the presence of foreign players will make local teams more competitive, especially in Asian-level club tournaments," said Tengku Abdullah at Wisma FAM in Kelana Jaya yesterday.
"It is our way of elevating the status of the M-League. Only teams with good financial backing should hire foreign players. We have set specific criteria on the hiring of players to ensure the quality of the local league is not compromised."
M-League teams can hire only national players from the Southeast Asian region and Asian players who are playing Division One football in Asian Football Confederation-affiliated countries.
The condition for non-Asian players is that only those playing at least in Division Two of a specific league outside Asia will be allowed.
This is the third time since the introduction of the Semi-Pro League in 1989 that foreign players have been allowed back into the local league.
The first ban, introduced in 1999 as a result of the Asian financial crisis, was revoked three years later. But FAM decided to bar foreign players in 2009.
FAM has also decided that next season's format will keep its status quo. The Super League will remain as a 14-team competition while the Premier League will comprise 12 teams.
This means Premier League champions PKNS and runners-up Sarawak will both play top-tier football next season without going through a play-off round. Pahang and Perlis, the bottom two clubs in this season's Super League, will feature in the Premier League next season.
Singapore's Young Lions will replace Young Tigers A in next season's Super League as part of the exchange programme with the Football Association of Singapore. Tigers A, under Ong Kim Swee, will make their debut in the S-League.
Tengku Abdullah said a new format will be introduced in the 2013 season.
"We may opt to reduce the number of teams in the Super League from 14 to either 12 or 10. It will be decided before December," said Tengku Abdullah, who added that FAM will continue to look at improvising the M-League from time to time.
The 16-team Malaysia Cup draw will be conducted on Aug 3. Tigers A will be exempted from the tournament. Pahang and Sime Darby will play a two-leg tie on July 19 and July 22 with the winners replacing Tigers A in the Malaysia Cup.
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