Three more ties in M-League first week postponed - MFL

KUALA LUMPUR, March 4 -- Three more matches in the first week of the 2022 Malaysia League (M-League) have been postponed due to COVID-19 infections among players and team officials.

The Malaysian Football League (MFL), in a statement today, confirmed that the three matches included the Super League match between Sri Pahang FC and Terengganu FC (TFC) scheduled at Darul Makmur Stadium in Kuantan tomorrow.

Receiving the same fate are two Premier League matches scheduled for tomorrow, between UiTM FC and TFC II at Sultan Ismail Nasiruddin Shah Stadium (Kuala Terengganu) and Perak FC versus Kelantan United FC at Perak Stadium (Ipoh).

The MFL said 20 players and officials of Sri Pahang FC were infected, UiTM (12 positive players and the remaining close contact players had symptoms) while Perak FC had six players tested positive while 14 close contact players showed symptoms.

According to the M-League governing body, the second (Super League) match of Sri Pahang FC versus Selangor FC on March 8 and the FA Cup first round match against Manjung City FC on March 12 also had to be postponed.

Two FA Cup first round matches, UiTM versus Kuching City FC on March 15 and Perak versus Kijang Rangers FC on March 14, also had to be postponed following today's developments.

Chief executive officer of MFL Stuart Ramalingam said MFL's latest standard operating procedure (SOP) entails that clubs are eligible to apply for a match postponement if 50 per cent or more of the main squad registrations on match day contracted COVID-19 or were symptomatic due to close contact.

"Today we received a report on teams testing positive for COVID-19, such as Sri Pahang FC, Perak FC and UiTM FC and the matches of these three teams had to be postponed until they completed the quarantine period," he said.

The three postponed matches bring to five the number of matches affected by COVID-19 in the first week of the tournament.

Yesterday, MFL said two Premier League ties, Selangor FC II versus FAM-NSC Project Squad at UiTM Stadium (Shah Alam) tomorrow and PDRM FC versus Kuching City FC at Kuala Lumpur Football Stadium in Cheras (March 7), were postponed due to COVID-19 infection.

-- BERNAMA