KUALA LUMPUR: The M-League is facing a severe financial crisis - even several top M-League clubs could no longer pay salaries.
The time has come for football authorities to introduce a salary cap system to avert a collapse of the M-League.
Clubs like Perlis, Melaka United, Sarawak United and Kelantan have already folded due to financial mismanagement. And more teams are expected to suffer the same fate.
The critical situation has led to widespread calls for league reforms, with many advocating for a salary cap similar to those of Spain's La Liga and the United States' Major League Soccer.
Malaysian Football League (MFL) newly appointed chief executive officer Giorgio Pompili Rossi is aware of the gravity of the situation, but warned that implementation of salary cap would not be a straightforward solution.
"I believe that every league should create its own (modules, regulations and methods) and not copy and paste because it's hard to implement in different countries due to many aspects that go beyond football.
"The financial and wage structure in Malaysia clubs is different, and I think we could learn from other leagues, just adapt it to our own system.
"I think the idea (salary cap) is quite fair. There's always room for consideration, but we will see how we can adapt it to our regulation," said Rossi.
While the salary cap proposal has been raised before, it has never gained traction.
This season, MFL adopted UEFA's Financial Fair Play regulations in a "hybrid" context, a move Rossi hopes will improve club financial management and reduce wage arrears.
The Italian pointed out that Malaysia isn't alone in grappling with these challenges.
"We know about Malaysia's issues, but similar problems occur in Thailand, Vietnam and across Southeast Asia. It's a regional matter," said Rossi.
With clubs on the brink of financial ruin, the urgency for a viable, long-term solution has never been greater.
As the calls for a salary cap intensify, the future of the M-League hangs in the balance.