MFL faces legal scrutiny over special squad exemption for KL City

Kuala Lumpur: The Malaysian Football League (MFL) is under investigation regarding its permission for KL City to bypass mandatory squad registration rules. Sports attorney Nik Erman Nik Roseli questioned MFL's authority to make such a concession, as the league could not waive a core competition rule. KL City participated in a match with 10 players, including one outfield substitute and no reserve goalkeeper, resulting in a 6-0 loss to Kuching City.

Article 4.5.7 of the M-League Manual mandates 15-20 players to be named, with at least two goalkeepers, while pre-season guidelines require at least 20 players to be registered. Nik Erman queried whether MFL had the legal right to waive this fundamental requirement. The MFL's power stems from the laws it establishes; it cannot deviate from these laws or fill gaps without explicit provisions.

While the manual permits sanctions for non-compliance, it does not offer exemptions. The exemption also sparked speculation about commercial factors, such as broadcast commitments or contractual penalties, potentially motivating the decision to allow the match to proceed. This incident contributes to mounting concerns about governance and regulatory uniformity within the M-League, with critics warning that sporadic exemptions could degrade the competition's sporting integrity and subject the league to additional legal challenges.