Kuala Lumpur: Restructuring the Malaysia League (M-League) competition is a priority for Datuk Mohd Joehari Mohd Ayub in the first phase of his administration as the new president of the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM).

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Mohd Joehari stated that the initiative, in collaboration with the Malaysian Football League (MFL), aims to restore the appeal of local league competitions, which have lost some of their charm. He highlighted that the plan has been in place and he intends to review the match structure and the league, as well as strengthen other areas that require improvement.

Mohd Joehari acknowledged the current unhealthy state of the M-League and emphasized a main plan, in collaboration with MFL, to improve the league. He addressed this during a press conference at the FAM election congress for the 2025-2029 term. He also mentioned that other issues, including salary arrears, will be addressed in consultation with national league operators.

The M-League has been facing challenges such as a lack of spectators at matches and an irregular league schedule, leading to its diminishing appeal.

Earlier, it was announced that Mohd Joehari would replace Tan Sri Hamidin Mohd Amin as the new FAM president. Tan Sri Hamidin chose not to seek re-election after serving since 2018. Mohd Joehari was confirmed as the unopposed winner, being the sole candidate as announced by FAM Election Committee chairman Prof Datuk Dr Abdullah Mohamad Said.

Mohd Joehari expressed optimism about the new leadership team at FAM, which includes football legends Datuk Dollah Salleh and Datuk Zainal Abidin Hassan, viewing them as a perfect combination to elevate Malaysian football to greater heights.