KUALA LUMPUR: Football Malaysia Limited Liability Partnership (FMLLP) chief executive officer, Kevin Ramalingam stressed that the decision to postpone the date of the Super League match date was to be fair to all the teams involved.
Kevin said that accusations by certain fans who have criticised the decision by claiming that it gives an advantage to Johor Darul Ta'zim (JDT) are just wrong.
"These accusations and criticisms that the changes in dates for matches to June which is after the second transfer window which is purportedly to help JDT so that they can engage new foreign imports are false and incorrect.
"However, just looking at the current situation, Pahang are also in need of new foreign imports, as I am made to understand that their 32-year-old Liberian forward Francis Forkey Doe is out injured. So the change in dates will also benefit Pahang, so why then are we being accused of helping JDT with no mention of Pahang?” said Kevin when contacted earlier today (Thursday).
FMLLP announced last night (Wednesday), that the match schedule for the sixth and seventh Super League matches which were slated for March 30 and 31 as well as April 1 and 4 will be postponed to June 5, 6, 10 and 11.
Whereas Premier League matches that were supposed to take place on March 29, 30 and 31, as well as on April 2, 3, and 4 will be postponed to April 9, 10, 23 and 24.
According to FMLLP, the changes in match schedule had to be carried out to give space and time for the national team to play a friendly international match on April 1.
However, the changes in schedule has brought about dissatisfaction among some fans who perceive FMLLP’s decision to be done they please and to help JDT who before this had already announced that they would carry out a major reshuffle during the second transfer window by bringing in even better foreign imports after losing the services of former top scorer Jorge Pereyra Diaz.
Kevin stressed that FMLLP cannot arrange for new match dates for the Super League that clash with the Premier League in April because JDT have to play AFC Cup matches on April 10 and 24.
"Premier League teams do not have matches in April, so there are no issues, but JDT have AFC Cup matches next month. If we were to postpone only JDT’s matches to June, then it would not be fair to the other teams, therefore we made the decision that all Super League matches be postponed to June,” Kevin clarified.
He added that it was very, very difficult to please all sides involved, especially some fans.
"When we succeeded in getting sponsors on board, then successfully work together with Spain’s La Liga, carry out workshops to improve the teams and league’s quality, fans then bring up the issue of the national team’s Fifa world ranking, and these fans will never be satisfied,” he explained.