It took five-time Malaysian Super League champions Johor Darul Takzim to show the way in implementing a new FA of Malaysia (FAM) release clause for their star player/players and now Selangor have taken the cue.
Not many know or knew of the new release clause introduced by the FA of Malaysia (FAM) in 2017 and lack of knowledge on the said clause caused controversy when JDT signed Kedah’s Akhyar Rashid for the new season.
Kedah have dragged the matter to the Court of Arbitration (CAS) while Akhyar has started training with the Southern Tigers although it is not known of he has got his letter of transfer from his home state.
The fact remains that the FAM’s 2017 clause is set for a chain reaction from other teams to keep their “star players” under wraps with a release clause with a tag price of millions in rinngit.
JDT have signed up Akhyar for years with a hefty price of RM12 million in release clause. Selangor have followed suit and have slapped a RM6 million release clause on right back Syamir Safari for the new season.
Syamir is best remembered for the gem of goal in Malaysia’s fighting 2-2 draw against defending champions Thailand in the return-leg semi-finals played at the Rajamangala Stadium in Bangkok.
Malaysia rode on away goals to knock the Thais out of the final after a scoreless draw in the first-leg in Kuala Lumpur.
Kedah is irked by “free agent” Akhyar’s move to the Southern Tigers – a move which the Red Eagles claim was done through “back door” tactics.
The northern state is taking the matter to Court of Arbitration (CAS) and have slammed the door shut on all further discussions or negotiations on the matter while the controversy rages on.
“We used a template introduced by the FAM in 2017 to tie up our players with strong contracts,” FA of Selangor (FAS) secretary Dr Johan Kamal Hamidon was quoted in the local media.
It is hoped that other teams will follow suit in implementing the 2017 FAM template to keep their stars from moving to other teams without getting compensation for developing the players. RIZAL ABDULLAH
