KUALA LUMPUR: All eyes are on former double treble winners Kedah as they grapple with settling their salary arrears.
Reportedly owing players four months in salary arrears from the last season, Kedah now face scrutiny from the Malaysian Football League (MFL), urging the club to provide additional information on salary settlements.
The MFL board will decide on the next course of action tomorrow if Kedah do not settle their financial obligations.
In the midst of this financial challenge, Kedah have taken steps to restructure their team, releasing eight foreign players, including Ifedayo Omosuyi, Bojan Ciger, Moses Atede, Manuel Hidalgo, Amirbek Juraboev, Ebenezer Assifuah, Alan Robertson, and Jonatan Balotelli.
Al-Hafiz Harun, Muhammad Hidhir Idris, Rodney Celvin Akwensive, Mior Dani Armin Mior Ariffen, Azrin Afiq Rusmini, Zharmein Ashraf Ismail, and Faizal Talib were the local players released by the club ahead of the new season.
However, they have signed striker Syafiq Ahmad on loan from Johor Darul Ta'zim, defender Rizal Ghazali from Sabah and former player Ahmad Fauzi Saari as team coordinator, hinting that their financial situation is improving.
Football critic Dr Zulakbal Abdul Karim believes Kedah's financial struggles are emblematic of broader issues in the M-League.
"It is due to a lack of long-term planning. Although the M-League has transitioned from FA to FC, teams still grapple with the same funding challenges, relying on politicians and royalties for financial support," said Zulakbal, a Sports Science Associate Professor at Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris.
He said football clubs must focus on generating steady revenue streams, stressing that good management plays a crucial role in influencing player performances on the field.
"M-League clubs need administrators who can create income. In the modern era, a club's financial administration is as important as winning trophies, and this is something M-League clubs must keep in mind," he added.