KUALA LUMPUR – Selangor FC have dismissed speculation that they could withdraw from the Malaysia League (M-League), insisting that abandoning the domestic competition has never been considered despite growing tensions following their Malaysia FA Cup semi-final defeat to Kuching City.
Selangor Football Association (FAS) deputy president and Selangor FC board member Datuk Seri Shahril Mokhtar said reports of a possible withdrawal were unfounded, adding that the issue had been blown out of proportion.
He stressed that the club understood the wider implications of leaving the competition, which would extend beyond Selangor FC and potentially affect the country’s football ecosystem.
“This, I can say, is all rumours. Naturally, when something like this is blown out of proportion, it becomes a big issue.
“But I can say that leaving the league has never crossed our minds. There would be many implications further down the road,” he told Scoop when contacted.
Shahril also urged stakeholders to exercise greater maturity when dealing with issues surrounding Malaysian football, cautioning against public statements or decisions that could damage the sport’s long-term development.
“We have to be mature about this. We should not make statements or decisions that could jeopardise the country’s football industry,” he said.
The speculation emerged following Selangor’s second-leg encounter against Kuching City in the FA Cup semi-finals on Nov 8, amid questions over the treatment received by the Red Giants during the match in Kuching.
Kuching City won 2-0 on the night to secure a 3-2 aggregate victory and book their place in the final, where they will face defending champions Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) at the Sultan Ibrahim Stadium next January.
However, the match was overshadowed by tensions between both camps, with heated exchanges towards the closing stages escalating into a scuffle involving players and officials from both teams.
The incident saw a Selangor FC player and an official sent off.
Shahril’s remarks reaffirm the club’s intention to remain in the domestic competition, despite the latest controversy surrounding Malaysian football.
Selangor are the most successful club in Malaysia Cup history, having won the prestigious competition 33 times. Their domestic honours also include six top-flight league titles, five Malaysia FA Cup triumphs and eight Charity Shield victories.
The Red Giants have also enjoyed a notable place in Asian football history, finishing as runners-up in the 1967 Asian Champion Club Tournament, the predecessor to the AFC Champions League Elite.
Over the decades, the club has also contributed significantly to the development of Malaysian football, producing several of the country’s most celebrated players, including the late Datuk Mokhtar Dahari. – November 12, 2026