SHAH ALAM - While foreign football fans continue to pack stadiums to support their teams, local Malaysian supporters have shown declining attendance at Malaysian Football League (MFL) matches and recently boycotted Merdeka Tournament.
This stark contrast highlighted the deepening disconnect between Malaysian fans and the game, as issues like underperformance and lack of competition drive them away from the stands.
Sports analyst Datuk Dr Pekan Ramli told Sinar Daily that in foreign countries, like the English Premier League (EPL), the strength of fan support comes from a deeply rooted sense of community.
"This bond is incredibly strong, with fans remaining fiercely loyal to their local teams or clubs, no matter where they rank in the league.
"In the past, Malaysia had a similar connection, where state pride was at the heart of football, with each state represented in the league.
"That strong sense of local pride has significantly weakened over time.
"To revive football in Malaysia, we need to rebuild that community-based foundation, even if it feels like a step backward,” he said when contacted recently.
Pekan also believes current local football fans are not as genuinely connected to the game as they once were.
Echoing Pekan's sentiments, Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman's academician and sports analyst Afi Rozhesry agreed that European fans continue to attend matches despite frustrations with their club's upper management.
"In European football, even when fans are dissatisfied with their club's owners, as is the case with Liverpool supporters unhappy with Fenway Sports Group's (FSG) handling of player transfers, they still attend matches.
"The same holds true for fans of Manchester United and other clubs facing similar issues.
"These fans often express their discontent through other means but do not boycott their teams, as the team itself is not to blame,” he said.
Afi believes fans should find alternative ways to express their dissatisfaction rather than boycotting matches.
"It is like the Malay proverb, ‘marahkan nyamuk kelambu dibakar’, taking out frustration on the wrong target.
"Maybe Ultras Malaya should rethink their boycott decision,” he added.
Foreign football fans, even when faced with deep-rooted issues surrounding their clubs or national teams, tend to maintain their loyalty and continue attending matches.
For instance, Manchester United supporters endured a decade of decline after Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement, with discontent towards the Glazers’ ownership, but still filled the stadiums.
Arsenal fans weathered years of stagnant performances and a lack of significant investment under Stan Kroenke, while Liverpool supporters waited three decades for their first Premier League title, before their recent success under Fenway Sports Group (FSG), despite financial constraints.
Newcastle fans, despite relegation and poor management under former owner Mike Ashley, remained passionate, while Barcelona supporters continued to rally behind their team amid financial crises and the loss of World Cup winner, Lionel Messi.
Even national teams like England, despite continuous belief that ‘football is coming home’, failed to win major tournaments in recent years, and Brazil, struggling since their 2002 World Cup triumph, still enjoys robust fan support.
In stark contrast, Malaysian football fans, particularly Ultras Malaya, have opted to boycott matches in protest of various issues, including dissatisfaction with the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) and the Malaysian Football League's (MFL) alleged poor management.
Recent boycott by Ultras Malaya, was a significant issue leading up to the Merdeka Tournament.
According to media reports, the Ultras were discontent with the state of football in Malaysia and decided to abstain from supporting the tournament, which featured Malaysia, the Philippines, Lebanon and Tajikistan.
Despite this, Malaysia triumphed over Lebanon 1-0 on Sept 8, clinching the championship.