The Tengku Mahkota of Johor, who is also known as TMJ, said the main problems included a lack of structured grassroots development and a competitive youth competition system, which had affected the development of national football talent.

He also stressed the need for an independent, professional refereeing body to ensure integrity and improve officiating standards.

Tunku Ismail said inconsistent sponsorship had weakened the league ecosystem, alongside poor financial discipline among clubs that continued to overspend.

“If you have RM12, you should spend less, not spend RM15. But when financial issues arise, everyone starts irresponsibly blaming the Football Association of Malaysia and Malaysian Football League (MFL).

“However, financial management is handled by the clubs themselves. This is the main problem,” Bernama reported him as saying during a MFL roundtable discussion with Malaysian League club representatives, streamed live on MFL’s official Facebook page today.

Tunku Ismail also highlighted infrastructural weaknesses, including pitch quality and stadium facilities, as key constraints requiring urgent attention.

He welcomed the roundtable but stressed that all parties must be honest and transparent in seeking solutions, without presenting conflicting narratives outside official discussions.

“If we are serious about developing football, we must solve these fundamental issues first,” he said.

Previously, several clubs had called for serious discussions, including a broader roundtable involving all Malaysian League stakeholders, amid growing financial concerns among teams.

Recurring issues in the league include delayed salary payments to players and officials by some clubs, as well as rising operational costs, exacerbated by external economic and geopolitical factors.