KUALA LUMPUR – The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has welcomed a growing movement among Malaysian League (M‑League) clubs to hold a collective dialogue aimed at tackling the deepening financial problems facing domestic football.
Speaking to Scoop, AFC secretary general Datuk Seri Windsor Paul John said that calls for all stakeholders to come together — recently championed by Selangor CEO Dr Johan Kamal Hamidon — are a positive step forward.
“If it benefits domestic football, such a proposal should be embraced rather than merely watching the M‑League struggle,” Windsor said, referring to mounting concerns over clubs withdrawing due to financial pressures.
He urged that, before any solutions are put forward, the root causes of the league’s issues must be clearly identified.
“Feedback from all stakeholders is essential. If there are proposals to improve the M‑League, they should be welcomed, but first we must pinpoint the real problems,” he said.
Windsor was clear that he opposes measures viewed as a regression — such as reverting to a semi‑professional structure — arguing that this would not address the underlying challenges.
He also described proposals to standardise club budgets as impractical given the varied ambitions and resources of different teams.
“In a family of five children, not all are equally talented. Some are very clever; others need extra support. Clubs operate the same way. Some aim to compete only locally; others want titles. Their finances and goals differ greatly,” he explained.
Amid the debate, Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) and Selangor FC have emerged as leaders in a united front to rescue the M‑League’s finances.
The two rivals have set aside competition to advocate for an urgent, all‑club roundtable discussion to find a sustainable way forward, as financial woes — including delayed salary payments and rising costs — continue to beset several teams.
JDT’s chief executive, Luis Garcia, has publicly expressed his willingness to engage with all M‑League clubs to examine a proposed solution put forward by Johan, stressing the need for an inclusive, industry‑wide conversation.
Garcia said he is keen to understand Johan’s financial proposals in detail and hopes clubs can meet soon to deliberate them.
Previously, Johan had urged for serious engagement among stakeholders, including the possibility of an immediate roundtable session to confront the crisis head-on.
JDT, Selangor, Sabah FC, Terengganu FC and Negeri Sembilan FC have since backed the proposal, underlining the growing consensus that a unified approach is needed to restore stability to Malaysian football.
AFC’s endorsement of this collaborative approach adds weight to growing calls for meaningful reform in Malaysian football, signalling that change — driven by a unified club front — may be on the horizon. – April 9, 2026