Tengku Zafrul makes it clear that there will be no compromise on maintaining halal standards, and that there will be no special rare earth deals between Malaysia and the United States.
The Malaysian Football League (MFL) has made significant adjustments to the player registration rules for the upcoming 2025-2026 M-League season. These changes aim to provide more opportunities for local talent and balance the number of foreign players on the pitch.
In a statement today, the MFL announced that clubs will now be able to register up to 33 players in total, an increase of three local players from the previous quota. However, clubs are not mandated to fill this additional quota. The decision to use the extra slots depends on each club's needs and financial capacity, given the Financial Fair Play (FFP) regulations that limit clubs to spending a maximum of 80% of their annual budget on player salaries.
Regarding foreign players, while clubs can still register up to 15 foreign players, the maximum number allowed on the pitch during a match is now limited to six (6), down from the previously allowed seven (7). This on-pitch quota consists of 4 "World" players, 1 Asian player, and 1 ASEAN player, plus three further foreign players are allowed as substitutes.
The MFL's decision to provide more local player options is due to the abolishment of several youth competitions, including the President's Cup, Youth Cup, Under-17, and Under-10, which previously served as developmental teams for M-League clubs. As a result, clubs competing in the 2025-2026 M-League season are exempted from having developmental teams.
The registration windows remain unchanged, with the first closing on August 31, 2025, and the second running from January 5 to February 1, 2026. The MFL did not specify any penalties for clubs that do not use the additional local player quota.
These changes affect all teams competing in the 2025-2026 M-League season, including those that were previously part of the Malaysia A1 Semi-Pro League. Notably, the MFL Cup has been abolished for the 2025-2026 season.
The MFL, as the governing body of the M-League, continues to work towards fostering a competitive and fair league while promoting the development of local talent. The changes announced today reflect this commitment to ensuring a balanced and exciting football season for fans.
[1] MFL Official Statement, 2025. [2] MFL Regulation Updates, 2025. [3] MFL Player Registration Rules, 2025. [4] MFL On-Pitch Player Quota, 2025.
- The Malaysian Football League (MFL) has increased the player registration limit for clubs to 33 players in total for the upcoming 2025-2026 M-League season, giving more opportunities to local talent.
- Despite the increased player registration limit, clubs are not obligated to fill the additional quota, as the decision to use the extra slots depends on each club's specific needs and financial capacity.
- The MFL's new on-pitch player quota for the 2025-2026 M-League season limits clubs to having six (6) foreign players on the pitch during a match, down from seven (7), consisting of 4 "World" players, 1 Asian player, and 1 ASEAN player, with three further foreign players allowed as substitutes.
