KUALA LUMPUR – Kuala Lumpur City FC has confirmed that it has resolved all of its player salary debts with the help of its stakeholders, saving the club from a FIFA registration ban.
The settlement of salary arrears, with the support of Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil, who is also the club’s patron, and Kuala Lumpur City Council (DBKL), has also allowed the side to sign national footballer Brendan Gan in the current transfer window.
It was reported that a total of six Malaysian League clubs have been slapped with player registration bans by FIFA, the highest among teams competing in Southeast Asian leagues.
A quick check on knowledge.fifa.com reveals that two of the teams, KL City FC and Kedah FC, are still actively competing in the Malaysia Super League.
The four other teams are Kelantan FC, Melaka United, Sarawak United, and Perlis FC.
According to the world football governing site, KL City FC has been sanctioned since February 1, while Kedah FC has been sanctioned since March 4.
Speaking to Scoop, KL City FC’s chief executive officer, Stanley Bernard, said that all players’ outstanding salaries were settled last week.
He also said that the club received a formal letter from the Football Association of Malaysia stating that FIFA had lifted the ban on the club.
“We only started signing our players once we paid our dues.
“Currently, we don’t have a ban from FIFA as all payments were made on March 26.
“DBKL provided 30% to 40% of the funds to settle the arrears through our annual sponsorship, which covers the club’s operating expenses. The remaining 60% of the funds came from corporate sponsorships,” said Stanley when contacted.
Scoop previously reported concerns regarding KL City FC’s financial stability, leaving players with unpaid dues.
The club was instructed by the Malaysian Football League to make the first salary payment amounting to 50% by March 15 and a full settlement on or before March 29.
Failure to make the payment according to the stipulated timelines would result in the club receiving a transfer ban and a fine or facing revocation of their national licence by the first-instance body.
Despite their financial issues, KL City FC maintained their mid-table grip in the Super League last season as they finished seventh with 38 points.
In 2021, the club under the guidance of Bojan Hodak, made waves by lifting the Malaysia Cup, outperforming their limited budget to defeat powerhouses Johor Darul Ta’zim in the final.
The Croatian’s cup-winning team featured experienced players such as Safee Sali, Shukor Adan, and Indra Putra Mahayuddin. – April 4, 2024