Cash-Strapped Malaysian Football Clubs Must Pay Deposits

Malaysia's football clubs will be ordered to pay deposits of millions of ringgit next season before they can compete "to ensure players receive their wages," according to Ossian Shine of REUTERS. Ten of the 14 clubs in the M-League are "in the red," while three teams face sanctions for "failing to settle players' wages." Just four months ago, the Football Association Malaysia (FAM) warned all teams that they could "face expulsion from Malaysia's top flight if they failed to pay players on time." Beginning next season, top flight clubs must pay a deposit of MYR 3M ($978,000), second-tier clubs MYR 2M ($652,000) and third-level clubs MYR 500,000 ($163,000) before they can compete (REUTERS, 10/8). ASIASPONSORSHIPNEWS.com reported that football in Malaysia "is about to get a boost" with confirmation that the FAM is "close to finalising a few major sponsorship deals" for its M-League. Association Head Azzuddin Ahmad confirmed that the companies about to sign on with football in Malaysia "are major sport sponsors, but he was unable to reveal their identity because contracts were yet to be signed" (ASIASPONSORSHIPNEWS.com, 10/8).