5/09/2025

SPORTS FRIDAY | SEPT 5, 2025

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competition since the club is not under the PFA. Last December, FAM suspended PFA until it fully settles the outstanding wages and compensation owed to its former football director Matt Holland, as instructed by world governing body Fifa. The ruling on Dec 4, 2019. Mohd Yusoff, however, said the door is still open for PFA to return as FAM’s affiliate, but that can only happen after PFA fully resolves all its existing problems. Meanwhile, yesterday’s meeting also decided that FAM deputy president Perlis FA kicked out of FAM

THE Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) have expelled the Perlis Football Association (PFA) as its affiliate member, effective immediately. Acting FAM president Datuk Mohd Yusoff Mahadi said the decision was taken after the national governing body had given PFA six months to resolve issues that arose. “The six-month period is over. So, today the committee decided to sack PFA from being an affiliate member of FAM,”he told a media conference after chairing the fourth FAM Executive Committee Meeting for 2025-2029 at Wisma FAM in Kelana Jaya, Kuala Lumpur yesterday. As such, the PFA will no longer be allowed to participate in or represent any football related activities nationwide.

TOUCHLINES MANCHESTER UNITED are will ing to let Cameroon goalkeeper Andre Onana, 29, move to Saudi Arabia with the transfer window for the Pro League still open. BRAZIL midfielder Casemiro, 33, chose to stay at Manchester United rather than move to Al-Nassr to help his chances of playing at the 2026 World Cup. CHELSEA’S England forward Raheem Sterling, 30, France defender Axel Disasi, 27, and Brazil midfielder Andrey Santos, 21, could all make moves to Saudi Arabia before the Pro League transfer window closes. FORMER Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou is one of the can didates being considered to take over as Bayer Leverkusen manager following the sack ing of Erik ten Hag. TOTTENHAM could re-open talks with Manchester City over a deal for 30-year-old Netherlands defender Nathan Ake in January. TURKISH club Fenerbahce, who recently dismissed Jose Mourinho, could also be an option for Postecoglou, 60, who led Spurs to victory in the Europa League last season before being sacked. BRAZIL winger Antony, 25, says he spoke to Bayern Munich before completing a move from Manchester United to Real Betis, where he had a stint on loan last season. ARSENAL were open to selling Brazil winger Gabriel Martinelli, 24, at the start of the summer but their £60m asking price put off clubs who valued him closer to £40m. JUVENTUS had been working on a deal to sign France forward Randal Kolo Muani, 26, from Paris St-Germain for months only to be pipped by Tottenham. MANCHESTER UNITED are still interested in strengthening their midfield options but director of football Jason Wilcox does not see it as the top priority. ARSENAL and Barcelona are both showing strong interest in Nottingham Forest’s 23-year-old Brazilian defender Murillo. NOTTINGHAM FOREST for ward Jota Silva, 26, could still leave for Saudi Arabia or Turkey after seeing a dead line-day move to Sporting col lapse with Saudi Pro League side Neom SC keen on the Portugal international. FOREST are keen to raise funds following a busy summer trans fer window which brought 13 arrivals to the first-team squad. FORMER Wolves boss Gary O’Neil is not rushing back to management but waiting for the right opportunity having spoken to “some fantastic clubs” since he left Molineux.

standing committees, including Mohd Yusoff heading three new portfolios – the Finance and Management Committee, the National Football Team Management Committee and the Emergency Committee. Sivasundaram will helm the Technical and Development Committee and the Infrastructure Committee; vice-president Datuk Seri Rosmadi Ismail (Competitions Committee chairman); and vice-president Datuk Saaran Nadarajah (Referees Committee chairman). FAM vice-president Datuk Dollah Salleh and FAM executive council member Datuk Zainal Abidin Hassan, meanwhile, have been given the task of monitoring the National Football Development Programme (NFDP) and the Mokhtar Dahari Academy (AMD). – Bernama

Datuk S. Sivasundaram would replace Mohd Yusoff as the Amateur Football League (AFL) chairman. FAM has restructured the chairmanship positions in several

However, Mohd Yusoff explained that PFA’s expulsion does not affect the participation of Perlis GSA FC in the semipro League A1 Mixed doubles gold medallists Malaysia’s Tang Jie Chen (left) and Ee Wei Toh celebrate on the podium. – REUTERSPIC

New plan of attack Tang Jie-Ee Wei can ‘pick and choose’ tournaments after securing spot in World Tour Finals N ATIONAL mixed doubles pair Chen Tang Jie and Toh Ee Wei are not expected to compete in too many Super Series championships, having confirmed their whether to send Tang Jie-Ee Wei to the Sept 9-14 Hong Kong Open, as they still have some matters to look into. support, not an ‘endorsement,’ but a form of reward for their dedication,” he said. At the event, Mamee presented an incentive of RM50,000 to Tang Jie and Ee Wei, witnessed by Nova

However, their main focus now will be on three major tournaments – China Masters (Sept 16-21), Denmark Open (Oct 14-19) and French Open (Oct 21-26). Meanwhile food and beverage producer Mamee-Double Decker (M) Sdn Bhd (Mamee) is determined to continue supporting the mixed doubles pair in the hope they can create history as Olympic champions. Group chief executive officer, Pierre Pang said a celebration at Monster Loft, Subang Jaya yesterday not only marked the pair’s triumph at the 2025 World Championships but also demonstrated the company’s commitment to standing by them on their journey ahead. “Ee Wei previously received a scholarship from Mamee two years ago to support her career. We also provide rewards in stages as a token of appreciation for their hard work. “We hope to support them until they become Olympic champions. What we provide is purely failed to make use of them to score,” he said in a video shared by the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) yesterday. In the clash held at Thammasat Stadium in Pathum Thani, Thailand, Harimau Muda seized control from the get go but despite forcing several corner kicks, were not able to make their dominance count with Lebanon custodian Anthony Maasry largely untroubled as both sides went into the break on level terms. Having soaked up a lot of pressure in the first half, Lebanon started to show more attacking intent after the break and eventually got the reward their performance deserved when

spot in the Badminton World Federation (BWF) World Tour Finals in Hangzhou, China, at the end of the year following their victory in the World Championships in Paris on Sunday. National mixed doubles head coach Nova Widianto said his charges, who previously had to play in competitions nearly every week, will now have a new plan drawn up by the team management. “I feel that we will pick and choose (the tournaments) because we previously entered them in many championships to make sure they qualify for the Tour Finals. But now that they have qualified, whether we like it or not, we have to pick and choose. “Of course, they will compete in the Super 750 and 1000 events. As for Super 500 events, we will wait and see first,” he told reporters in Subang Jaya yesterday. Nova also said that they have not decided THE Harimau Muda squad’s hopes of securing all three points were dashed by a lapse in the dying minutes, resulting in Malaysia’s 1-0 defeat to Lebanon in the opening match of the 2026 AFC U 23 Asian Cup Qualifiers on Wednesday night, said head coach Nafuzi Zain. He said his players displayed good football including creating several golden chances, but failed to capitalise on them. “The players are clearly disappointed and I feel we should not have lost and could have won that match. “The game control shown from the start was good as well. There were many chances but we

Pierre added that Ee Wei is also considered part of the extended Mamee family as her mother has served with the company for over 30 years. “She is a national hero and also part of the Mamee family. We have seen her difficult journey since childhood until now, when she has emerged as a world champion. We are very proud of them,” he said. Meanwhile, Ee Wei expressed her gratitude to the company, describing the victory in Paris as a gift for her family. “I want to thank Mamee for taking care of us. My mother has worked at Mamee for 33 years, and this victory is also a gift for my family,” she said. Tang Jie, on the other hand, was grateful to be appreciated by Mamee even though he is not part of the company’s family, and stressed that they are now refocusing on training after their success in Paris. – Bernama midfielder Ali El Fadl put his team ahead with a strike in the 84th minute. Malaysia will face Mongolia tomorrow before meeting Thailand in the final match on Tuesday, with all fixtures scheduled to take place at Thammasat Stadium. Only the 11 group winners and the four best runners-up will qualify for the final round in Saudi Arabia next January. Malaysia previously qualified for the U-23 Asian Cup in the 2022 edition (Uzbekistan) and 2024 edition (Qatar), with their best achievement being a quarterfinal appearance in the 2018 edition in China. – Bernama

Lapse in concentration prove costly for Harimau Muda