FAM officials provide conflicting response.

On one corner we have FA of Malaysia (FAM) sec-gen Datuk Azzuddin Ahmad and then there's FAM competitions committee chairman Datuk Hamidin Mohd Amin.

While Azzuddin (pic above) was caught off guard when asked if Malaysia's representation in the 2013 AFC Cup was affected by the inclusion of LionsXII in the M-League - that of course is should they win either the Super League or FA Cup.

Azzuddin admitted that FAM had not thought the matter thoroughly but believes that Asian Football Confederation (AFC) would still consider an appeal if the unlikely scenario were to happen.

Never mind, now that the matter has been highlighted, we will write to AFC to clarify this," he said.

pics courtesy of The Malay Mail

However, Hamidin insist the matter was a no issue and that FAM have already sorted this out. For the record, Hamidin also sits at the AFC competitions committee.

Confusing indeed. Maybe its best if officials, not just in FAM, could communicate. :)

Anyway, Mailsports has the full story.

Malaysia's representation in 2013 AFC Cup affected?

Malaysia may lose a spot in the AFC Cup - that's if LionXII win the Super League or FA Cup.

Malaysia are awarded two spots. One automatic entry (Super League champions) and one play-off entry (FA Cup winner)

Here's the correspondence with an Asian Football Confederation  (AFC) spokesman :-

1. How many slots are located to Malaysia for the AFC Champions League and AFC Cup. Pls eloborate on the qualifications.

- No AFC Champions League slots are allocated for Malaysia.
- In case of AFC Cup, based on our technical standard ranking, one direct slot and one playoff slot were allocated for Malaysia.
- However, from the ACL playoff stage (EAST), two losing teams (from ACL playoff Round 2) are supposed to join the AFC Cup preliminary (Group) stage, but this time there is only one team who can join the AFC Cup after the club loses their match in ACL playoff. Therefore, the extra one slot of AFC Cup went to AFC Cup playoff teams, which means that Terengganu (Malaysia) and Ayeyawady United (Myanmar) do not have to play their AFC Cup playoff match. They got a direct entry to the AFC Cup Group Stage.

2. I'm under the impression that the winner of the Malaysian Super League and FA Cup will qualify for the the AFC Cup. Singapore's young Lions and Harimau Muda B (a FA of Malaysia team and not a football club) are also participating. What happens if the following happens:

a. If either teams win the Super League. Since they can't represent Malaysia in the AFC Champions League or Cup. Will the slot be given to the second placed teams?
b. If either teams win the FA Cup, will the runner's up be able to play in the AFC competition instead?

- If they win, they can't participate in AFC club competitions and no replacement is allowed at the moment.

C. If the runners-up of the FA Cup can take the slot, what happens if the runners up is ineligible as well? Can the the runners up of the Super League play instead?

- Basically the same rule applies. No replacement.

You can refer to Article 26 (Eligible Clubs) of the AFC Cup 2012 Competition Regulations attached herewith.

If the eligibility of club is not one of the cases stipulated in the regulations, we do not accept the club's entry and its participation is subject to the final approval of the AFC Competitions Committee. 

Read the full story in today's Mailsport. Also look out for FAM's response in tomorrow's Malay Mail.

Finally a proper format..... but

FA of Malaysia has released the format of the M-league for the 2013 - 2016. In short teams will not be left wondering whether they are relegated.

All seems good except one thing....see for yourself.

 M-League 2013-2016

- Super League and Premier League will comprise of 12 teams each.

- Super League : top nine teams, LionsXII, champion of Premier League while final spot will be decided in a play off between the Premier League runners-up and the remaining Super League teams.

At the expense of a local team, LionsXII cannot be relegated. So if they play badly and finish bottom, they will still have a spot in the Super League.

Of course perhaps our Harimau Muda A is getting the same treatment in the S-League but this is just not right. Teams have to play in the respective leagues on merit not some arrangement made between two FAs.

Many might disagree with me but well that should be the nature of a league.

Of course it is unlikely they'll finish bottom - even our Harimau Muda A finished fifth last season, that of course considering LionsXII is equallly strong.

Anyway format and arrangements have already been done. For the sake of being professional, let's all hope FAM does not move the goal post at some point of the season.

Check out Foul! for all the decisions made by the FAM Competitions Committee yesterday.

It's all about the $$$?

Not according to Aidil Zafuan Abdul Razak.

pic taken from The Malay Mail

Would Michael Owen, then poster boy of English football, move to a lower tier club if bogged by injury when at 24? Highly unlikely - unless it's impossible to play the way he used to play.

Would any national player do so in their respective countries? - I doubt so. 

But not in Malaysia - as the saying goes #onlyinMalaysia or Malaysia Boleh.

I'm not critising the move of the Abdul Razak twins. It could be just what they needed after a frustrating injury-filled year.

But I just don't see this happening much elsewhere. Aidil says It's not about the money but really?...

Armed Forces are said to have spent big bucks for the 2012 Premier League, FA Cup, and Malaysia Cup assault. They have signed eight players from Super League sides. 

Defence Minister  Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi did not help by refusing to comment on their budget - stopping short of a strong statement

"Let's leave out how much we have spent - it won't be nice on other teams... We don't have to go into their contract details," he said.

I just hope no public funds were used.

Armed to conquer

Armed Forces could win the Premier League, FA Cup and Malaysia Cup - they certainly have the players to do it. And even coach B. Satianathan.

Well that's just optimistically speaking.

pic taken from The Malay Mail

Malaysia Cup success would only mean more clubs would want to poach Hairuddin Omar - he has taken the Cup with him for the last three years. 

FA Cup - in England, this cup provides fairy-tale stories once in a while.... maybe Armed Forces will have a tale to tell too.

Premier League - no team will come close to them. They will march like how PKNS did this year. Anything besides Champions will be a disappointment. 

Satianathan has been given full mandate for their 2012 assault. He has signed several of 'his' players though the former Kelantan coach insists he will not favour any one of them.

Read what Satianathan has to say here.