Malaysian Football League confirms March 5 kickoff

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Malaysian Football League

The Malaysian Football League (MFL) has confirmed a March 5 start date for the 2021 season, after COVID-19 forced a postponement of the competition.

At an online meeting of the club’s CEOs and MFL Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Datuk Ab Ghani Hassan, all club representatives supported the decision to commence on March 5.

Hassan said that the new competition start date was the best move for the survival of the domestic football industry as well as giving way to the national team which has upcoming 2022 World Cup and 2023 Asian Cup qualifying matches.

The season was originally scheduled to kickoff on February 26.

The MFL CEO also acknowledged that the Malaysian Football League was understanding of the difficulties club face with interrupted preparations to the 2021 season.

“MFL is committed to ending the league campaign with full matches (22 matches) where we do not want to take risks that will affect the sponsorship other than measures to reduce matches or cancel other tournaments such as the Malaysia Cup or Challenge Cup had to be taken if the Malaysia League calendar begins slower,” the MFL said in a statement.

CEO of Kedah Darul Aman (KDA) FC, Khamal Idris Ali was among the club representatives to give a positive response to the March 5 competition start.

“KDA FC accepts this MFL decision and can accept the situation faced by the MFL due to certain unavoidable obstacles,” he said.

“Looking at certain factors such as the national team also needs space to make preparations, we also need to understand the interests of the country and follow the voice of other majority who also agree.

“If followed, the government has given permission for us to train and hold matches, it is enough to have good news in the current situation.

“In the current situation, the team has no choice but to be creative and may use the available space to prepare even in a short period of time.”

As of yesterday, clubs could start centralised training programs in quarantine bubbles – the MFL required players to return a negative COVID-19 test result before being allowed to commence training.

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Daniel Foley is a sports junior journalist with Soccerscene. He reports widely on football policy and micro industry matters.

Melbourne City FC and Tarneit United to promote grassroots growth

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Tarneit United and Melbourne City
Image credit: Tarneit United

Melbourne City FC announced that Tarneit United Soccer Club are a Macca’s City Clubs Platinum Partner for the current 2023/24 A-Leagues season.

Melbourne City have used their partnership with McDonald’s Australia to create The Macca’s City Clubs program. This program aims to engage junior grassroots football clubs across metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria with the aim to help grow football on and off the pitch.

The club seek to create purposeful long-term relationships with every club they work with and make a huge impact on the development and participation numbers of the sport.

It was originally launched in the 2021/22 A-Leagues season, and the club continues to grow the club network utilising this amazing program every season.

There are plenty of benefits for Tarneit United SC that come out of this partnership including “Coach the Coach” workshops led by our experienced Melbourne City coaches, player meet and greets, and the opportunity to take part in exclusive matchday experiences and offers.

Tarneit United President, Burhan Farah explained why this partnership would benefit the members of the club greatly.

“Tarneit United is in the heart of the west and we’re excited to partner with the best A-League club in the country. Farah mentioned in a Melbourne City press release

“A love for football is our number one driver, and by aligning our club with Melbourne City FC, we hope to inspire our coaches and players to continue to grow our game in the community.

“It’s an honour to be a Macca’s City Club Platinum Partner and we look forward to supporting Melbourne City from the stands this season.”

Melbourne City FC CEO, Brad Rowse explained the importance of growing grassroots football in Victoria.

“We’re delighted to welcome Tarneit United to the Macca’s City Club program on the eve of the 2023/24 A-Leagues season. Rowse added in a club press release.

“Supporting grassroots football is important to us at Melbourne City FC, and with the addition of Tarneit United, we now have thirteen Macca’s City Club Platinum Partners stretching right across Melbourne.

“We’re incredibly excited to partner with Tarneit United and can’t wait to give their participants plenty of unforgettable experiences and opportunities in the years ahead.”

Melbourne City through their Football School and Maccas City Clubs programs have set a standard for the other teams in the league to hopefully follow in the near future.

The importance of setting a fantastic grassroots foundation of football in the country can never be undermined and this partnership provides another great example of it.

PSG eyeing huge Parc des Princes redevelopment

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Parc des Princes revamp
Image credit: Zakarie Faibis via Wikimedia Commons

Despite uncertainties over its future at the 48,000-capacity Parc des Princes, Paris Saint-Germain is continuing to investigate possibilities for significant redevelopment work.

According to the French publication L’Équipe, PSG is considering putting a roof and a retractable pitch to the Parc des Princes as part of an ambitious expansion proposal. The stadium is owned by the City Council of Paris, and any substantial renovations would need PSG to buy the site.

PSG has many possibilities on the table, according to L’Équipe, and the club is still interested in purchasing the Stade de France. PSG must submit an offer to purchase the Stade de France by January 3.

PSG held a survey with its supporters in March about the club’s stadium alternatives, outlining four ideas. A “significant” refurbishment of the Parc des Princes, a shift to a restored Stade de France, a new stadium to the west of Paris, and a new site within a 20 kilometre radius of the Parc des Princes that may include the town of Poissy were all possibilities.

If the team is unable to execute a deal to buy the Parc des Princes, it may attempt to buy the Stade de France or relocate to one of two new locations in the city.

The French government presently owns the Stade de France through the Consortium Stade de France. In 1995, the state handed the two corporations control of the 77,083-capacity stadium under a deal with the partnership created by construction firms Vinci and Bouygues.

The agreement between Vinci and Bouygues will expire on July 1, 2025. The cost of acquiring the facility is estimated to be over $657 million, with additional expenditure necessary to transform it to the demands of a football club.

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