Fall flat: Immigration’s Keron Ornchaiyaphum tackles Police midfielder Safee Ahmad during their Super League match. — Bernama
PETALING JAYA: Police’s troubles on the pitch mirrored their crisis off it as they slumped to a 5-0 defeat by Immigration in the Super League “Home Ministry derby” at the Batu Kawan Stadium on Sunday.
Immigration were ruthless from the outset. Midfielder Fadzrul Danel Nizam got things going in the 19th minute, before Brazilian striker Joao Pedro doubled the lead with a crisp finish in the 38th.
Burundi winger Elvis Kamsoba stole the show in the second half, netting twice in the 74th and 77th minutes and then providing the assist for Fayyadh Zulkifli’s fifth.
While the scoreline was painful enough, the bigger concern was about Police’s worsening financial state.
Sources close to the club revealed that players and staff are owed up to five months’ salary, compounding the sense of disarray.
The Malaysian Football League’s (MFL) Financial Fair Play (FFP) unit recently confirmed that Police had yet to clear outstanding salary arrears from last season.
The Professional Footballers Association of Malaysia (PFAM), working alongside the FFP, corroborated the findings.
Despite the submission deadline of Oct 16, the club failed to provide documentation proving either arrears or settlement. The FFP issued two warning letters demanding proof of payment or a payment plan, but Police did not respond.
Police were fined RM10,000 initially and given 14 days to resolve the arrears. When no receipts or plans were submitted, they were hit with a second fine of RM20,000. A third fine of RM40,000 followed, along with a transfer ban for the second window of the season.
Police now have until Dec 31 to clear the arrears or face harsher penalties under Article 14(1)(e), which could include competition sanctions.
Coach Eddy Gapil praised his team’s spirit despite the chaos swirling around them.
“Our preparation hasn’t been the best, but I salute the players for their commitment,” he said.
Immigration coach Yusri Che Lah, meanwhile, said an early goal was crucial to unsettle Police and his charges executed the plan perfectly.
Immigration sit eighth with nine points from nine matches, while Police remain 10th on six. Immigration next travel to Bandar Seri Begawan to face Brunei on Dec 7 while Police face Sabah at the Selayang Stadium a day earlier.
