Kuala lumpur: The decision by Selangor FC chief executive officer Dr Johan Kamal Hamidon to voice his views outside official channels has raised questions and could potentially spark polemics within the local football ecosystem, according to a veteran football administrator. Former acting president of the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM), Datuk Mohd Yusoff Mahadi, said the move was puzzling, given that Johan is not new to the country's football administrative system.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Mohd Yusoff highlighted the importance of using official platforms, such as meetings of the Malaysian Football League (MFL) board of directors and the MFL Congress, to address issues if there is a genuine intention to improve the situation. He noted that speaking outside these platforms can lead to various perceptions and is no longer just a professional view.

Mohd Yusoff also questioned the timing of Johan's remarks, suggesting that there could be underlying interests at play. He speculated that the move might be an attempt to divert attention from internal weaknesses that have not been fully addressed. He warned that criticizing the league through external platforms could exert indirect pressure on the MFL while shaping a particular narrative.

He expressed concern that such actions might build momentum from outside and involve other parties, leading to division and undermining the league's stability. Mohd Yusoff emphasized that any effort to improve national football should be conducted professionally through proper channels, rather than through open statements that may raise more questions than solutions.

Recently, Johan called for serious discussions, including the possibility of a roundtable session involving all M-League stakeholders, due to the increasingly worrying financial situation among most teams. Johor Darul Ta'zim, Negeri Sembilan FC, Terengganu FC, Penang FC, and Sabah FC have expressed support for the proposal to hold a roundtable session.

The M-League faces recurring issues such as delays in salary payments to players and team officials, as well as rising operational costs, which have been exacerbated by ongoing tensions in West Asia.