What's behind Ultras Malaya's boycott of Merdeka Tournament?

SHAH ALAM - The low fan attendance at Malaysian Football League (MFL) matches and the recent boycott of Merdeka Tournament by Ultras Malaya are attributed to a lack of competition and widespread dissatisfaction with the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM).

These issues reflect a broader discontent with the perceived lack of competitive depth within the MFL, highlighting the urgent need for reforms to rekindle fan interest and improve the overall quality of domestic football.

Sports analyst Datuk Dr Pekan Ramli outlined several key reasons behind Ultras Malaya's decision to boycott the Merdeka Tournament.

“One major factor is their deep frustration with various crises and controversies, including unresolved criminal acts against national players.

"The chaotic incidents surrounding the Piala Sumbangsih and FA Cup have significantly damaged the current football ecosystem in Malaysia.

“Another point of contention is their dissatisfaction with the top leadership of FAM.

"The perceived mismanagement and interference in the national squad’s affairs led to the resignation of former head coach Kim Pan Gon, which further fueled the boycott," he told Sinar Daily when contacted recently.

As for the declining support for MFL matches, Pekan cited several factors could be influencing the lack of enthusiasm.

"The league is no longer seen as truly competitive, with predictable outcomes and the same teams consistently winning, leading to a sense of bias,” he said.

Pekan also stressed that the unresolved issue of unpaid player wages has also left fans disillusioned.

“Problems with refereeing, league regulations and scheduling have further eroded the supporters' desire to attend matches,” he added.

Agreeing with Pekan, Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman's sports analyst Afi Rozhesry also believes the main reason for Ultras Malaya's boycott of the recent Merdeka Tournament is the resignation of Pan Gon.

“It seems that Ultras Malaya was dissatisfied with FAM’s decision to let him go.

"Their discontent appears to be more directed at FAM and its President, Tan Sri Hamidin Mohd Amin, rather than the national team, Harimau Malaya itself.

“The main issue seems to be with how FAM handled Pan Gon's departure,” Afi said.

The 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.

Meanwhile, FAM President Tan Sri Hamidin Mohd Amin had attempted to address the situation by urging the Ultras to support the tournament and offering to meet with them to resolve the issues.

However, prior to the competition, ticket sales had been sluggish, with FAM reporting fewer than 1,000 tickets sold.

On Sept 9, after the tournament's conclusion, head coach Pau Marti Vicente expressed satisfaction with the victory, praising the players' hard work and describing the win as a symbolic testament to their efforts.

He was pleased with the team’s performance and the positive working relationship with the staff and players.