JDT's success doesn't translate to full stadium - Analyst

SHAH ALAM - Despite Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT)'s top-notch facilities and dominance in the Malaysian Football League (MFL), fans may find the matches too one-sided, leading to reluctance in attending games and preventing the stadium from reaching full capacity.

The recent boycott by Ultras Malaya ahead of the Merdeka Tournament has highlighted growing frustration with the state of Malaysian football and dissatisfaction with the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM).

This discontent is compounded by low match attendance in MFL, where even powerhouse JDT, despite their dominance and world-class Sultan Ibrahim Stadium (SSI), struggle to fill the 40,000-capacity venue consistently.

The situation reflected a deeper issue of fan disengagement, even from the country's top-performing club.

Sports analyst Datuk Dr Pekan Ramli highlighted that people often forget the real appeal of football is not solely about winning every game or amassing trophies season after season.

“Football thrives on a variety of elements such as exciting competition, a fair and impartial league, high standards of sportsmanship and more.

"When these core aspects of enjoyment are neglected, the fans who cherish the spirit of the game will naturally become hesitant to attend matches at the stadium.

“It is well recognised that JDT stands as a club of international calibre, with outstanding domestic achievements and facilities to be proud of.

“However, the number of dedicated 'real fans,' especially among local Johoreans who consistently fill the stadium, remains relatively modest, usually around 15,000 to 20,000 per match,” he told Sinar Daily when contacted recently.

Pekan suggested that to expand its fan base, JDT should look beyond its local appeal and actively attract supporters from outside Johor.

“By doing so, the club can build a broader and more dedicated following for this exceptional team,” he added.

Echoing Pekan’s perspectives, senior journalist and sports analyst Graig Nunis is unsure why JDT’s fans are not flocking to their stadium.

“Especially with their top-notch facilities and such a dominant team, which should give fans even more reason to celebrate.

"Perhaps they feel the matches are too one-sided, with JDT being too dominant over local teams,” he said.

Meanwhile, Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman's academician and sports analyst Afi Rozhesry said that JDT is not to be blamed for this issue.

“As for JDT's match attendance, it is noticeable that even their fans struggle to regularly fill the stadium.

"I do not think JDT should be blamed for this.

“The low attendance at local matches might stem from the fact that Malaysia has not developed a strong sports culture yet, unlike countries where fans have a deep connection with sports.

“Despite JDT offering world-class stadium facilities, affordable tickets and their dominant run in Malaysian football, it still has not been enough to draw consistent crowds, which is quite disheartening,” he said.

Afi suggested that the issue might need to be tackled at the grassroots level, an area that has not yet been thoroughly explored.

“By exposing and educating students about sports in schools, we could work on building a stronger sports culture in the country,” he added.

In December 2023, it was reported that JDT faced financial challenges due to unsatisfactory attendance levels at SSI.

Despite offering open seating tickets at just RM10, the 40,000-seat stadium rarely reached full capacity, even though the team had consistently achieved remarkable success over the years.

JDT's owner, Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim (TMJ), admitted that the club would need to cut expenses by 30 to 40 per cent in response to this issue.

"Next year, we are the underdogs. More people will be leaving the club.

"We are in a cost-saving process. The stadium is rarely full. Just RM10 for an open ticket.

"Anyway, we pray for the best for the club. Thank you to everyone who continues to support us," TMJ said in a comment on Instagram.