Foreign imports to make comeback in 2012

Borneo Post - Posted on October 1, 2010, Friday

SHAH ALAM: Foreign players who were barred from playing in the M-League, are expected to make a comeback in 2012 but certainly not in 2011 said the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM).

The FAM competition committee will propose to the FAM Executive Council that the ban remain for the 2011 season.

Competition committee chairman Datuk Hamidin Mohd Amin said the decision was made although all the affiliates of FAM had unanimously agreed that the presence of imported players would inject excitement and enhance the M-League.

“However, due to specific reasons, especially matters concerning finance, the committee decided that foreign players be only allowed in 2012,” he said  after chairing a special competition committee meeting yesterday.

Hamidin said the committee would set conditions that only teams that manage to settle their financial obligations to players, Employees Provident Fund (EPF) or any other dues, would be allowed to use imported players.

“We decided to allow import players only in 2012 so that teams will have a grace period to settle their financial problems and strengthen their financial status to prepare for the employment of foreign players,” he said.

Foreign players were first introduced when the Semi-Pro League was introduced in 1989, but in August 2008, FAM decided to bar import players for the 2009 season.

Hamidin added that during the meeting, it was also decided that each team would only be allowed to import three foreign players.

“Teams can only buy players whose status and rankings are higher than local players. Their eligibility will be based on their status by Aug 11, 2011,” he said.

However, the final decision would only be decided during the executive board meeting on Monday, he said.