KUALA LUMPUR – Kelantan FC has been excluded from participating in the upcoming 2024-2025 Super League season as their application for a National Licence was rejected by the Malaysia Football League’s (MFL) First Instance Body (FIB).
The decision was based on the team’s failure to meet two crucial financial criteria – sub-criteria F.04 and sub-criteria F.11.
These criteria required Kelantan FC to ensure there were no overdue payments towards employees, LHDN, EPF, Socso, and EIS, with specific deadlines set for November 30 and December 31.
Sub-criteria F.04 focused on the financial status as of June, while sub-criteria F.11 assessed the situation as of August.
In a statement by MFL today, despite being granted an extension until November 15 for the First Step related to sub-criteria F.04, Kelantan FC failed to clear all outstanding salary payments owed until August 2023.
Additionally, for the Second Step concerning sub-criteria F.11, which involved resolving five FIFA cases by December 31, the necessary documentation was not submitted by the deadline.
“While the club appealed for more time, the FIB accepted it but imposed a fine of RM20,000 along with a transfer ban until all FIFA cases were resolved,” said FIB chairman Tuan Sheikh Mohd Nasir Sheikh Mohd Sharif in the statement.
Kelantan FC submitted proof of a post-dated cheque on December 1, but MFL demanded additional evidence of payment clearance.
“Further complications arose when documents presented on December 10 as proof of salary payments for August 2023 were deemed insufficient by the FIB.
“Despite attempts to rectify the situation, including issuing a new cheque and making online payments, seven players and an official still did not receive their full salary due to contract termination issues,” read the statement.
The club also failed to provide complete supporting documents for one player and one official, and by the December 31 deadline, the required documents for resolving FIFA cases were not submitted.
Additionally, proof of payment receipts for monthly instalments until August 2023, as per the EPF and Socso schedule, was not submitted.
As a result of these failures, Kelantan FC did not obtain the National Licence for the 2024-2025 Super League season.
However, the club has the option to appeal this decision to the MFL Club Licensing Appeals Body before January 8, 2024, at 5pm. – January 1, 2024