Malaysia football urged to fix unpaid salaries crisis: ‘I am going home without any money’
The need for reforms arises amid growing grievances from players and coaches, with one footballer claiming he has not been paid for nine months
Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh has called on Malaysia’s football authorities to overhaul the sport’s ecosystem, with particular focus on resolving the persistent problem of unpaid player salaries.
Yeoh emphasised that Malaysian football’s troubles require comprehensive solutions rather than piecemeal fixes.
“The issues in our football scene require more than just reactive measures. It’s time we look at the bigger picture and work together to rebuild a healthier and more sustainable football environment,” she told local media on Wednesday.
The minister said she has sought external expertise to address the crisis plaguing the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM).
“I’ve asked [the] AFC (Asian Football Confederation) to do an assessment. They have given me a report, and we will discuss it with FAM. We can’t look at one case only,” she said.
“We have to see it holistically. In our future meeting, we will discuss with FAM on how to improve the current ecosystem. Not just at the national level, but we want to see improvements in these clubs.”