'Overpaying average players is killing Malaysian football' - Jamal Nasir's blunt truth
He contrasted this with players like Arif Aiman Hanapi of Johor Darul Ta'zim, for whom a high salary is justifiable.
SHAH ALAM - Football clubs must exercise prudence when selecting both local and foreign players, offering salaries commensurate with their quality to avoid financial distress.
Harimau Malaya legend Datuk Jamal Nasir Ismail stressed that every club needs the expertise to accurately assess a player’s capabilities before signing them.
This evaluation is crucial to prevent clubs from being burdened with exorbitant salaries for underperforming players.
“Every club needs the expertise to select or evaluate each player they intend to sign.
"However, some players demand RM20,000 salaries when their worth is significantly less, perhaps even below RM10,000.
“Yet, because the club strongly desires the player, they proceed with the signing, ultimately acquiring a player who lacks the expected quality," Jamal said.
He contrasted this with players like Arif Aiman Hanapi of Johor Darul Ta'zim, for whom a high salary is justifiable.
“But if a player performs just averagely, why pay a premium?
"Ultimately, the club bears the consequences. Sometimes, the Chief Executive Officer or team management’s strong preference for a particular player leads to inflated salary offers," he said.
Jamal claimed that player selection should be entrusted to experts and talent scouts who can determine a suitable salary for each player.
The issue of salary arrears in the Malaysian League is a recurring problem that detrimentally affects the local football industry.
A primary cause of severe financial difficulties for clubs is the decision to pay players excessively high salaries that do not align with their on-field contributions.
Jamal also proposed that each club establish its own salary scale for players, serving as a benchmark for determining fair compensation. “
"Clubs should create a structure – for instance, defining appropriate salary ranges for national players versus regular players.
“If the club cannot afford a player’s salary demands, they should refrain from signing them," he added.
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