KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 30 — The Malaysian Football League (MFL) has decided to reschedule the kick off for the new M-League season, following a change of date by the International Association Football Federation (Fifa) to inspect the country’s Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system.
Originally slated from May 3 to May 5, the new dates are now from May 10 to May 12.
MFL said the new date given by Fifa for the VAR inspection, which is due next month, has been proposed for April 16 to April 21.
It must organise a series of matches involving M-League clubs for the VAR test from April 22 to May 5.
“As previously announced by MFL, the VAR system used in the M-League this year will be the mobile VAR concept and therefore, the series of matches to be organised is important to test the stability of the VAR system in competitive matches when telecast live.
“The test matches are also important for MFL to test the mobility of the VAR system when the system is transported to venues, telecast management, understanding of officials and teams plus the preparedness of venues involved in hosting matches,” MFL said in a statement today on Facebook.
A discussion will be held with all the clubs involved in the series of matches, and an announcement will be made once details are finalised.
In another development, MFL has nominated teams that finished the 2023 Super League in third position (Sabah FC) and fourth place (Kedah Darul Aman FC) to compete in the 2024 Asian Club Championship (ACC).
However, the proposal submitted to the Asean Football Federation (AFF) through the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) yet to receive any feedback.
Meanwhile, the quota of nine import players would be maintained for the 2024-2025 season, although the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has announced there would not be a limit set for using foreign players.
“Only teams competing in AFC competitions like AFC Champions League Elite (ACLE), AFC Champions League (ACL) 2, and Asean (AFF Cup) are allowed to register an additional import player,” it said.
— Bernama
