THE government may be waving the red card due to the Covid-19 pandemic, but the Malaysian Football League (MFL) are not ready to send off this season's M-League.
After their appeal to the authorities for teams to resume training in July and the league to restart in August was denied, MFL insisted yesterday they will make another appeal with new proposals.
Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin has announced in his Labour Day speech that sporting activities that involve body contact and large gatherings will not be allowed.
MFL chief executive officer Datuk Ab Ghani Hassan said yesterday: "This is a lose-lose situation for everyone but it doesn't mean that football has to disappear.
"We must fight for its survival, we will have to do something to save it.
"We will submit another appeal in June and if it is approved, there are many things we will implement."
However, Ghani admitted that if the teams are only allowed to resume training in September, this year's M-League will have very slim hope of being held.
Following advice from the National Security Council, Health Ministry and Sports Ministry, the MFL have come up with several proposals for the government to reconsider.
Among them is that the 12-team Super League and 12-team Premier League be reduced to 'half season' or just one round instead of two.
The two leagues are to run from Sept 1 to Sept 27 with match No 5 to match No 11. Earlier, the league was suspended after four games since March 16.
MALAYSIA CUP
As for the Malaysia Cup, it is to be played from Oct 17 to Nov 7 on a knockout format. The FA Cup and Challenge Cup will be cancelled.
The best 11 Super League teams and five teams from the Premier League will qualify for the Malaysia Cup.
Teams to begin training sessions in August, and they will adhere to the standard operating procedure of the Covid-19 safety measures set by the authorities. All matches will be held behind closed doors.
Ghani said if the government does not allow the league to resume by September, the 2020 season will have to be voided.
Ghani said: "We are aware many people depend on the football economy for income. Therefore, MFL hope to restart the league under strict conditions."
With the FA Cup cancelled, there will be no winner from the competition for next year's Asian Champions League. MFL have decided that the automatic slot for the Champions League will be given to this year's Super League winners, while the Super League runners-up and Malaysia Cup champions will get a ticket to the Asian competition. Previously, the winners of the Malaysia Cup were not eligible for the Champions League.
If all the M-League competitions for this year are scrapped, next year's Asian Champions League berth will be given to the 2019 Super League champions, while the 2019 Super League runners-up and 2019 FA Cup champions qualify for next year's AFC Cup.
Ghani stressed that these plans will be revised in June, depending on the situation of the pandemic.
He said these proposals were made taking into consideration the changes in dates of this year's World Cup qualifiers, Asian Champions League and AFF Suzuki Cup, Ghani hopes that with the proposals, MFL can help the teams prepare for any eventualities as the authorities may make new announcements in regard to the Covid-19 crisis.