Super League club closure: A blow beyond the pitch, threatening football ecosystem
Those expected to be affected include stadium owners who lose rental income, as well as ticketing and security operators. - Inset: Associate Professor Dr Zulakbal Abd Karim
SHAH ALAM - The closure of a football club in the Super League impacts far more than just the players on the pitch — it disrupts the livelihoods of many who depend on Malaysia's professional football ecosystem.
Sports analyst Associate Professor Dr Zulakbal Abd Karim pointed out that many people don't realise how deeply the effects spread when a club withdraws from the league.
'If a club shuts down and withdraws, it's not only the players, technical staff and management who suffer. The ripple effects extend to many other stakeholders,' he said.
Those affected include stadium owners who lose rental income, ticketing and security operators, match-day volunteers, official merchandise suppliers and small traders and food vendors around the stadium who rely on weekly sales.
More concerning, he added, is that when a flagship club folds, every level of its youth development — from the President's Cup squad to the Under-19, Under-17 and Under-14 teams — also disappears.
'That weakens our talent pool significantly. Development centres such as the National Football Development Programme (AMD) will struggle to find fresh prospects for Harimau Malaya. Eventually, we may have to depend even longer on naturalised players,' he added.
Zulakbal compared the situation to the Malay proverb, 'kera di hutan disusukan, anak di rumah mati kelaparan' — taking care of outsiders or unimportant matters while neglecting those who are truly important or close to you — a scenario that must be avoided to protect the future of Malaysian football.
He believes it is time for clubs to stage a comeback by adopting sustainable restructuring plans, rebranding the team, clearing old debts and appointing professionals to guide the club back on track.
'We have plenty of experts and resources in this country. Football is Malaysia's top sport, loved by all demographics. With genuine effort and clear direction, I'm confident we can rise again,' he said.
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