Selangor: Selangor FC has proposed the establishment of an independent professional refereeing body as one of three key measures to improve officiating standards and strengthen governance in the Malaysian League (M-League).
According to BERNAMA News Agency, the chief executive officer of Selangor FC, Dr Johan Kamal Hamidon, stated that the proposal is crucial to enhancing the integrity of competitions and restoring confidence in the league's refereeing system. He emphasized that the formation of an independent professional refereeing body could position the M-League as a strong benchmark within ASEAN.
Dr Johan Kamal further proposed that League Partners, as the largest stakeholders in the M-League, should be given greater representation on the board of the Malaysian Football League (MFL). Currently, League Partners hold only three seats on a 10-member board. He suggested that it is important to have at least a majority of seats, potentially six out of ten, or to at least move towards a majority. These remarks were made during a roundtable discussion with M-League club representatives.
The third proposal involves creating a pathway for referrals to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). This measure aims to enhance accountability in league management while boosting confidence among investors and sponsors.
The roundtable discussion was initiated following calls from several clubs for a formal platform to address critical issues such as governance, finances, and the league's direction amidst ongoing challenges. Recurring concerns include delays in salary payments to players and team officials by certain clubs, as well as rising operational costs that burden many teams.
Additionally, the discussion saw a surprise appearance by the Regent of Johor, His Royal Highness Tunku Mahkota Ismail, owner of Johor Darul Ta'zim (JDT). He shared his views and emphasized several fundamental issues requiring serious attention, including grassroots development, refereeing standards, sponsorship, and financial discipline among clubs.