12 hours Ago By Farah Azharie
KUALA LUMPUR: The results will be out at the end of this month, and not everyone is expected to get an Asian Football Confederation (AFC) licence to play in the M-League for the 2025-2026 season. Football critic Datuk Dr Pekan Ramli said while he is unsure how many clubs will successfully obtain the AFC licence this time around, he fears the number may drop even further compared to previous years. "For the 2023-2024 season, 11 clubs applied for AFC licence and only seven were successful.
"The following season, nine clubs applied and again, seven were approved, with Kedah and Sri Pahang among those who failed. "For the 2025-2026 season, although I don't have the final figure, I believe the number will be about the same, or maybe even fewer," he said. Pekan pointed out that two or three of the clubs that were granted the AFC licence last season are currently grappling with unresolved salary arrears.
"If we take this into account, logically, we may see only five or six clubs eligible for AFC competitions and by extension, fewer national licences for the 2025-2026 season," he said. But of concern to Pekan is the possibility of the powers-that-be exercising undue leniency. "If FAM, MFL or FIB tolerate the violations of the licensing rules, we'll end up with clubs drowning in debt again next season," he said.
Pekan said that licences should not be handed out to errant clubs, especially those resorting to unethical practices. "The issue of unpaid salaries and even document forgery, which have been reported in the past, just so that teams could remain in competition, will only continue if nothing is done. "Reporting such issues is falling on deaf ears, it's pointless.
It's like pouring water on a yam leaf. A complete waste of effort." Pekan warned that without strict enforcement of the licensing rules, Malaysian football will suffer the same damaging cycle season after season.
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