KUALA LUMPUR – Penang FC have voiced strong opposition to the Malaysian Football League’s (MFL) decision to extend the deadline for Super League clubs to submit their documents for the 2025/26 season’s national licensing process.
This comes a day after the First Instance Body (FIB) announced that clubs now have until May 10 to complete their submissions – a 10-day extension from the original April 30 deadline.
While acknowledging FIB’s flexibility and “concern in considering the challenges faced by certain clubs,” Penang FC expressed unease over the precedent it may set.
“We at Penang FC are always committed to adherence to financial and administrative standards… but at the same time, we would also like to voice our concerns about the potential negative impact if such an extension is made the norm,” the club said in an official statement released today.
The club warned that the relaxed approach could lead to further financial mismanagement within Malaysian football.
“The loopholes provided could cause clubs facing financial difficulties to postpone any restructuring measures or resolutions that should be taken immediately,” the statement read.
Penang FC further argued that without strict deadlines, clubs may continue deferring action on serious issues, threatening the long-term sustainability of their operations.
“This can also negatively impact players, officials, and other stakeholders such as sponsors and supporters who expect stability and accountability from club management,” they added.
The extension comes amid ongoing challenges in club licensing, with several Super League teams struggling to meet financial and administrative requirements in time.
The FIB had said it hoped the revised deadline would help all Super League clubs “complete the application process in the best possible manner.”
Penang FC’s public dissent underscores a growing tension between ensuring flexibility for struggling clubs and maintaining the integrity of the licensing process. – May 1, 2025