JDT’s Bergson Da Silva of Brazil is one of the foreign players who will be in action next season. — FAIHAN GHANI/The Star
PETALING JAYA: The Malaysian Football League (MFL) have announced that teams can have a maximum of 15 foreign players for the upcoming season.
In a statement relased on Friday (May 22), they limited the registration to 34 players for clubs competing in Asian Champions League (ACL) Elite and ACL and 30 players for all other clubs (reduced from 32).
With 15 foreigners now, the match day squad limit will be seven starters and two on the bench in the league scheduled to kick off in August.
The composition is four players from Africa, North and South America, Europe and Oceania continents; one from Asia; and two from Southeast Asia.
This is an increase from last season’s limits of 12 foreign players (ACL Elite and ACL2) and nine for other clubs.
"However, clubs are not obligated to fulfil the foreign quota as it depends on their financial capacity, especially as the FFP (Financial Fair Play) salary cap is being enforced," said MFL.
The full enforcement of FFP introduced last season was set at 80 percent salary cap based on each club’s annual budget.
Clubs are now prohibited from spending more than 80 percent of their total annual budget on wages, a move designed to control costs, maintain healthy cash flow, and prioritise consistent salary payments.
The import rule changes aim to provide equal opportunities, raise competition levels, and attract higher-quality imports, especially as the Malaysian league’s calendar now aligns with top global leagues.
The MFL also confirmed that Brunei will participate in the new season, after having secured approval from the FIFA.
They last featured in the Super League in 2008.
