PETALING JAYA: The Malaysian Football League (MFL) have confirmed that the MFL Cup will remain on hold for the upcoming season despite growing calls for the return of the competition as a development platform for young talent.
The alarm comes in the wake of Malaysia’s early exit from the AFF Under-23 Championship in Indonesia, which reignited concerns over the lack of competitive minutes available for youth players in the Super League - especially with the influx of senior and foreign players.
However, MFL interim chief executive officer Shazly Shaik (pic) said the suspension of the MFL Cup was a calculated move to push clubs to integrate young players directly into the senior set-up.
“For the time being, there are no plans to bring back the MFL Cup,” said Shazly.
“We shut down the tournament to ensure these young players are given opportunities in the Super League, where the level of competition will accelerate their growth.
“Previously, we were among the leagues with the oldest average age, partly because youth players were restricted to age-group competitions.
‘‘This change gives us a clearer picture of who’s ready to step up.”
Player registrations for the 2024-2025 season are still ongoing for several clubs, and Shazly said the MFL will monitor how teams utilise their youth talent before determining if any new development initiatives are needed later in the season.
Another key update from the MFL is the continued roll-out of Remote VAR (Video Assistant Referee) technology, especially in Borneo.
Instead of setting up multiple facilities, a centralised data centre in Kuala Lumpur will handle all VAR operations, including those for matches hosted by teams in East Malaysia.
A team of broadcast and VAR specialists will travel to Brunei from Aug 1- 3 to assess signal strength and readiness.
Brunei is participating in the Super League this season as a guest team, alongside Sabah and Kuching City, who finished third and fourth respectively last year.
Financial concerns remain a hot topic, particularly with Kelantan, who have made headlines over unsettled dues.
Shazly confirmed that the MFL are in regular communication with the club’s management, but no formal report has been received yet.
