Super League teams allowed to sign 2 foreigners next season

The foreign players will be back in action in the Malaysian Super League (MSL) next year – after a three-year absence.

The FA of Malaysia (FAM) executive committee yesterday endorsed the competitions committee’s decision to allow teams to engage two foreign players.

FAM deputy president Tengku Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah said foreign pros from the Asean region must be national players while those from Asia, Oceania must be from Division One clubs.

Those from other continents will have to be from at least Division Two clubs.

Tengku Abdullah advised teams with financial difficulties not to engage foreign players.

“It is advisable for these affiliates, who have yet to settle payments to the Employees Provident Fund (EPF) and other relevant agencies, not to join the bandwagon.

“If you have not settled your dues, please don’t think about it. It (the hiring of foreign players) is not mandatory,” Tengku Abdullah told a press conference at Wisma FAM in Kelana Jaya yesterday.

The FAM had imposed the ban on the foreign legion following the poor state of affairs among their affiliates.

Competitions committee chairman Datuk Hamidin Mohd Amin said the format for the new season would remain the same – 14 teams in the Super League and 12 in the Premier League.

“The only notable change is the inclusion of the Singapore Young Lions (Under-23), who will be playing in the Super League next year. They will replace the Harimau Muda A squad, who will play in the S-League next season,” said Hami­din.

Premier League champions PKNS FC and runners-up Sarawak have been promoted to the top flight while Perlis and Pahang are the Super League teams who have been relegated to the lower division.

Hamidin also said that the Charity Shield tie would not be counted as a Super League match next year.

Super League champions Kelan­tan will host the Charity Shield match against the winners of the Malaysia Cup at the Sultan Mohd IV Stadium in Kota Baru on Jan 6.

The competitions committee also endorsed the participation of Kelantan and Terengganu in the AFC Cup next year.

Kelantan won the Super League title while Terengganu bagged the FA Cup this season.

Hamidin said the FAM would also provide a subsidy of RM20,000 for every home match in the AFC Cup competition.