Malaysia Super League

The Malaysia Super League (Liga Super Malaysia) is a Malaysian professional league for association football. At the top flight of the Malaysian football league system and it is managed by the Malaysia Super League Sdn Bhd, under supervision of the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM). The is contested between 14 teams and operates on a system of promotion and relegation with the Malaysia Premier League. The 14 clubs participating in this top flight league need to pass a set of requirements and verification process, particularly related to professionalism and infrastructure feasibility.

It was previously known as the Semi-Pro League from 1989 to 1993 and the M-League (Liga-M) from 1993 to 2004. It is currently sponsored by Astro and therefore officially known as the Astro Malaysia Super League. The competition formed in 2004 following the decision by the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) to privatize the league. As a result, MSL Sendirian Berhad (or MSL Proprietary Limited) was created to oversee the marketing aspects of the league.

Since 1979, a total of 11 clubs have been crowned champions of the Malaysian football system. Since the inception of the Super League in 2004, six teams have won the title: Kedah FA (2 titles), Selangor FA (2), Pahang FA (1), Perlis FA (1), Kelantan FA (1) and Negeri Sembilan FA (1).

The current champions are Kelantan FA, who won the 2011 season.

History

A football league competition involving the representative sides of the state football associations was first held in Malaysia in 1979. When it began, it was intended primarily as a qualifying tournament for the final knock-out stages of the Malaysia Cup. It was not until 1982 that a League Cup was introduced to recognise the winners of the preliminary stage as the league champions. Over the years, the league competition has gained important stature in its own right.

Initially the only teams only allowed to participate in the league were the state FAs, teams representing the Armed Forces and the Police, and teams representing the neighbouring countries of Singapore and Brunei (though the Football Association of Singapore pulled out of the Malaysian League after the 1994 season following a dispute with the Football Association of Malaysia over gate receipts, and has not been involved since). In recent years, top Malaysian club teams have also been admitted to the league competition.

In 2010, The Football Association of Malaysia released a new logo for the 2011 season, followed by another new logo made from the league sponsor, Astro for the 2012 season.^[1]

Between 1989 to 1993 and 1998 to 2003, the football league in Malaysia was divided into two levels:

• 1st Division: Premier 1 League Malaysia
• 2nd Division: Premier 2 League Malaysia

Between 1994 to 1997, there was no second-level league as the top two leagues were combined.

Between 2004 to 2006, the professional football league in Malaysia was divided into two levels and two groups:

• 1st Division: Malaysia Super League
• 2nd Division: Malaysia Premier League Group A
• 2nd Division: Malaysia Premier League Group B

Between 2007 until now, the professional football league in Malaysia was only divided into two levels when Malaysia Premier League combined into one level:

• 1st Division: Malaysia Super League
• 2nd Division: Malaysia Premier League
• 3rd Division: Malaysia FAM Cup

Logo evolution

Criticism

The Malaysia Super League has had its share of criticism throughout its history.

Radical position movements

With only eight teams in the league prior to the 2006-07 season, position movements were radical. Successive losses would condemn teams to a relegation dogfight. Similarly, successive wins would put a team in contention for the title. Notable examples include:

• In 2005 season, Perak FA was rooted at the bottom of the table (with 12 points from 3 wins, 3 draws & 8 losses) after 14 rounds (which was already two-third of the season), relegation dangers seemed imminent back then. However, 6 straight wins that followed propelled them into direct contention for 2nd place with Pahang FA (the defending champions then) on the last day of the season. They eventually lost that game, but still finished in a respectable 3rd place.

• In 2006 season, Selangor MPPJ was leading the table (with 21 points from 7 wins, 1 draw & 2 losses) after 10 rounds (which was almost half of the season), winning the title to follow up their famous victory in 2003 Malaysia Cup was certainly on the cards. However, 8 losses in a row subsequently left them in deep relegation troubles. Their place in the Super League Malaysia was only saved with 2 straight wins in the final rounds of the season. In the end they finished in a disappointing 5th place.

Constant format changes

The reasons given for the formation of the Malaysia Super League was the need to improve the standard of football in Malaysia. However, the Malaysia Super League was criticized by local press. Many called it a variation of the older M-League but with fewer teams in the top division. Many also disagreed with the fact that the league format changed almost annually and it is a problem which persists until today. The Malaysia Super League has gone through two format changes in its short history spanning three-years. The Football Association of Malaysia decided to expand the Super League Malaysia to accommodate 14 teams instead of 8, which was the number of league teams in the Super League's first three seasons.

From Super League Malaysia 2009 the league will have 14 teams, and all teams will play each other only twice (26 matches total). It was also decided that the teams will no longer feature any foreign players.

Teams

A total of 14 teams will participate in the 2012 Malaysia Super League season.

• Kelantan FA (2011 Super League Malaysia champions)
• Terengganu FA
• Selangor FA
• Kedah FA
• Perak FA
• Johor FC
• Negeri Sembilan FA
• T-Team
• Sabah FA
• Felda United FC
• Kuala Lumpur FA
• Singapore Lions
• PKNS FC (Promoted as 2011 Malaysia Premier League champions)
• Sarawak FA (Promoted as 2011 Malaysia Premier League runners-up)

Champions

Since its inception in 2004, the Malaysia Super League title has seen 4 different teams become champions. Kedah FA becomes the first club that won the Super League Malaysia title back-to-back, in 2006-07 season and in 2007-08 season.

Astro Malaysia Super League is classified as the 18th league in Asian with a Grade D in the AFC Pro-League Ad-Hoc Committee Assessment Chart.

(For detailed information on a particular season, click on the season.)

Pre-2004 Malaysia Super League champions

Great honours

Great honours are titled for the team who won 2 trophies (double) and 3 trophies (treble) in the same season. It covers Malaysia Super League, Malaysia FA Cup and Malaysia Cup.

Double

Treble

Players

Golden Boot Winners

Foreign players

The professionalism of some teams have also been questioned. Most Malaysia Super League teams view foreign players as a necessity and as a result, most teams usually fill up their rosters with unknown foreigners. Teams usually sign foreigners based on their performances in pre-season trials. It is not uncommon for foreign players to be released after just two or three matches or be kept on the sidelines for an entire season.

The last case of unprofessional conduct involved Ivan Ziga, a Slovakian player who plays for Sarawak FA. Ivan Ziga claims his contract was terminated nine-months early without any explanation. He also claimed he was not paid. He took his plight to the Football Association of Malaysia but received no reply until Ivan Ziga threatened to take the case to FIFA.

Ivan Ziga's case is not uncommon in Malaysia, with most other cases involving African players who are either not paid or left stranded when their contracts are terminated early without any proper explanation given by teams.

Foreign players are to come back to the league starting from the 2012 season onwards. All foreign players must obtain International Transfer Certificate from their previous national football/soccer governing body that their previous clubs affiliated before they can be register with FAM to plays in Malaysia Super League.

The early editions of Division 1 League, M-League, Premier 1 League and Malaysia Super League used the same format for foreign players as the previous edition of top layer league in Malaysia, which allows club to have 3 foreign players from any countries without further restrictions. Further up, clubs can employ as many as 4 foreign players and only 3 of them are allowed to play at any one time in a match.

Guidelines on Hiring of Foreign Players for the M-League

1. Each team in the M-League can employ a maximum of TWO (2) professional Foreign Players subject to the FAM Regulations.

2. Teams participating in AFC Cup 2012 can employ one (1) extra Foreign Player, making it a total of three (3) Foreign Players, but the third Foreign Player is only allowed to play for the AFC Cup Tournament.

3. All the teams seeking to employ foreign players must seek clearance from the Vetting Committee.

4. There is no restriction as to the country of origin of the Foreign Player but subject to the Malaysian Immigration Law.

5. The Foreign Player to be selected should comply with the following playing status:-

- Only Foreign Players playing in Division 2 and above are allowed from the Confederations listed below:

• Union of European Football Associations (UEFA)
• Confederation of African Football (CAF)
• Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF)
• South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL)

- Only Foreign Players playing in Division 1 are allowed from the Confederations listed below:

• Asian Football Confederation (AFC)
• Oceania Football Confederation (OFC)

- However, only current National Players from countries with world ranking higher than Malaysia’s ranking in FIFA’s World Ranking listed on 24 August 2011 is allowed to play in M-League 2012.

6. All Foreign Players to be employed must be certified medically fit and free from illnesses such as HIV Aids, Hepatitis A, B and C by a Malaysia Hospital approved by FAM or State Football Associations.

7. The Foreign Player must bring together his medical records and a copy of his contract from the previous club or loan agreement between players and the club concerned.

8. An agreement contract of minimum SIX (6) months, shall be drawn out by the Football Association of Malaysia, and will be signed between the foreign player and the State Football Association or Clubs.

9. Teams can employ a Foreign Player for a maximum of two (2) years subject to renewal based on performance at the end of the first year.

10. If the Foreign Player wants to continue playing for the same team after two (2) years, then he will have to appeal to the Vetting Committee.

11. Foreign Player who has played in one season of the M-League, either full or halfway, will not be able to play for another team in the M-League in the remainder of the season and the entire duration of the next season.

12. A minimum monthly salary of RM2,500.00 (RINGGIT MALAYSIA TWO THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED ONLY), has been set for each Foreign Player.

13. State Football Associations are only allowed to deal regarding hiring matters with FIFA / FAM Agents or parents, lawyers, siblings, spouse of the Foreign Players.

14. The additional perks may include suitable accommodation and a car for Foreign Players.

15. The quantum for the match bonuses shall be agreed upon between the Foreign Player and the State Football Association or Club.

16. The State Football Association or Club intending to hire a Foreign Player must have a healthy budget and submit deposit to FAM for each Foreign Player hired based on the calculation below:

Deposit = Total Salary (one month gross salary) x 3

17. Foreign Players who are playing or who have played in AFF South East Asian League have to complete a cooling-off period of two years, where their last Contract must have ended before or on 7 December 2009 before they can be hired by State Football Association or Club to play in M-League 2012.

18. All the Foreign Players, Team Manager, Coaches and the State Football Secretary which hires the Foreign Players will have to undergo a compulsory pre-season briefing conducted by the Vetting Committee.

19. All matters not stipulated under this guidelines, any exemption to the guideline or unforeseen circumstances and interpretation of the guidelines will be determined by the vetting committee whose decision shall be final and binding.

20. In the event of any dispute on the interpretation of these Guidelines, the decisions of the Vetting Committee of the Football Association of Malaysia shall be final.

2012 Super League Foreign Players

Note:

• Teams participating in AFC Cup 2012, (Kelantan FA and Terengganu FA) can employ two (2) extra Foreign Player, as the AFC allows 4 foreign players, making it a total of four(4) Foreign Players, but the third and fourth Foreign Player is only allowed to play for the AFC Cup Tournament.

2012 Premier League Foreign Players

Club Records

• Table shows teams' wins in all competitions
• Numbers in bracket shows runner-up finishes in competitions
• Although the FA of Malaysia has not recognised retrospectively the league winners for 1979–1981, these are included for statistical comparison.
• The figures in bold represent the most times this competition has been won by the team

See also

• Malaysia Super League seasons
• FAM Football Awards
• History of Malaysian football
• Expatriate footballers in Malaysia
• List of Super League Malaysia managers

References

External links

• Official site
• Football Association of Malaysia
• RSSSF.com: Malaysia - List of Champions
• Malaysia Super League results