Our football is outdated

Sports Minister says team managers should be more enterprising. Football management at state level in Malaysia is outdated and the officials involved in the M-League need to buck up to stay relevant with the demanding industry.

Sports Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek said yesterday football management was complex and akin to a chief executive officer's job.

He said team managers could no longer rely on selling tickets to fans as a main source of income but must also focus on merchandising and team branding to boost financial performances.

"Malaysia is lagging behind other countries on football management where foreign team managers are assessed based on earnings from the sale of merchandise," said Ahmad Shabery after opening the state Youth and Sports new management building in Batu Uban, Penang, yesterday.

"A football manager's job is much more challenging nowadays, so we need to move in that direction."

Ahmad Shabery said contracts must be in place to avoid conflicts between players and their employers in the M-League.

He was commenting on players' freedom of movement following three landmark rulings by the FAM player status committee in favour of Young Tigers duo Affize Faisal Mamat and Akram Mahinan as well as the transfer of Norshahrul Idlan Talaha from Kelantan to Johor Darul Takzim.

It was reported that players from development team, Young Tigers, need not have to move back to their original teams when released by FAM while teams can no longer demand a transfer fee once a player has bought out his contract.

"The transfer fee disputes are happening due to the lack of contract across the board to protect the players' interests in the event of movement," said Ahmad Shabery.

On the issue of M-League teams paying high salaries to lure players, the minister said it was a positive sign.

Referring to the country's top football earners, Safee Sali and Norshahrul Idlan Talaha, he said the duo deserve their high salaries, and advised others to improve themselves for a better salary.

In another issue, Ahmad Shabery took operators of some sports complexes to task for running to the federal government for funds and maintenance.

He said these operators put in tenders to manage the facilities but do not think of ways to generate revenues.

Sports Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek at the opening of the state Youth and Sports new management building in Batu Uban, Penang, yesterday. Pic by Asman IbrahiM.