FMLLP should have referred to KAFA before making a statement on players' transfers - Annuar

Football Malaysia Limited Liability Partnership (FMLLP) should be more professional in dealing with the current issue of foreign player recruitment by Kelantan Football Association (KAFA), says its adviser Tan Sri Annuar Musa.

He said the Malaysian League (M-League) management body should have referred to KAFA before issuing any statement regarding the acquisition of two new foreign players - Abou Bakr Al Mel, and Seydi L Imam - for the Kelantan squad.

"Can't FMLLP ask KAFA what is the true position before making a statement so that it is more professional, and so that they don't make a wrong statement regarding this matter," he said in a post on his Facebook page today.

It was previously reported that FMLLP would not approve the registration of Syedi L Imam as it had only received an application from KAFA to recruit one foreign player.

Moreover, the player could not be registered to play in the M-League as KAFA still faced a transfer ban due to pending settlement of players wages.

Annuar, who is also the main sponsor of the Kelantan team said the money received from the transfer of import striker Mohammed Ghaddar to Johor Darul Ta'zim (JDT) was only used for paying players' salaries and the signing of Abou Bakr, and it did not involve bringing in Seydi L Imam.

"Doesn't FMLLP know that Seydi L Imam was brought in with no additional cost to KAFA, and that he was brought in by the agent as a substitute for the injured Alessandro Celin who is having fitness problems?

"Don't they (at FLLPM) know that KAFA had made savings by loaning players such as Pak Nik (Nik Sharul Azim Abdul Halim) to ensure KAFA does not over spend, and several former import players who have made noise have a dispute case with KAFA which is undergoing a certain process which was their own choice," he said.

Annuar also questioned FMLLP's motive on the issue as it had allowed Lebanese import Abou Bakr to be registered with Kelantan.

"If Abou Bakr could be allowed to be registered, on what basis do they want to prevent (the registration of) Seydi L Imam, and the regulations clearly state that signing players without involving additional costs and savings is the team's right.

"Or does FMLLP want the club to continue to waste money by keeping players who are injured, so that TRW, which already has got (six) points deducted can continue to tumble and be unable to compete?"

"Why did FMLLP allow KAFA players to be transferred out if the association is not allowed to replace them? Please answer professionally," he said.

-- BERNAMA