Terengganu happy with FAM's decision to extend registration of foreign players

The Menteri Besar of Terengganu Datuk Seri Ahmad Said said he was happy with the Football Association Of Malaysia's (FAM) decision to extend the registration of foreign players to Feb 13 and hoped the issue would not recur.

"The extension would enable imported players to be fielded and this should be well received by all state football associations as it meant FAM listens to our needs.

"FAM's decision was in line with the objective of recruiting imported players to raise the local football standard and strengthen fan support which would enable football associations to increase their revenue in future," he told reporters after opening the Terengganu State 2012 Non-governmental Organisations Convention, here Saturday.

The Football Association of Terengganu was earlier embroilled in a dispute with FAM over the registration of its two imported players, Francis Forkey Doe from Liberia and Erison Da Silva Santos Carnieto from Brazil based on an FAM letter dated Dec 23.

The FAM Competitions Committee in its meeting yesterday agreed to extend the registration of all imported players to all state football associations and clubs to Feb 13.

Besides Terengganu, the news would also bring cheer to several other teams including Negeri Sembilan, PKNS and Johor FC which were also facing problems in the registration of their imported players.

Meanwhile, the Minister of Youth and Sports Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek was also relieved that the crisis between Terengganu FA and FAM was over.

"This is a positive development. We would like to see this professional approach continue not only from the aspect of professional players but also from the management, and quality of refereeing of the sports without requiring the government to interfere," he said.

"I hope state teams could be developed into professional clubs and perhaps there would be millionaires interested in buying Terengganu club as in the purchase of QPR (Queens Park Rangers), Arsenal and others which people may not see now," he said.

Meanwhile, Terengganu Football team manager Datuk Che Mat Jusoh, said there was nothing to comment now that the issue was settled.

Nevertheless, Che Mat said Terengganu FA would wait for the decision of FAM's vetting, monitoring and transparency committee chaired by Tan Sri Aseh Che Mat before fielding their imported players.

Che Mat said in the meantime the 2011 FA champion would use all local players in on-going league matches.

Meanwhile, Terengganu Football Fans Club (Pateh) secretary Wan Mohd Azmi Wan Ngah said the club appreciated the professional approach taken by FAM in resolving the crisis.

"Representing all Terengganu fans, Pateh wishes to thank FAM for hearing out the grouses of the state's football association," he said.