Telekom Malaysia – Malaysia Football League sponsorship deal gets ‘messy’
March 21, 2019
It is no secret that the Malaysia Football League had recently ended the sponsorship of telecommunication giant Telekom Malaysia.
According to a statement by the Malaysia Football League, the cancellation came after the Malaysia Football League and Telekom Malaysia failed to seek common ground on settling issues regarding Telekom Malaysia.
The Malaysia Football League Chairman DYAM Mejar Jeneral Tunku Ismail Ibni Sultan Ibrahim (TMJ) in that same statement said that he had instructed the CEO of the Malaysia Football League, Kevin Ramalingam to seek new partners interested to sponsor the Liga Malaysia.
Telekom Malaysia had however issued their own statement on the issue citing that it is no longer a sponsor for the M-League from this year.
The statement further elaborates that “TM denies that it has not met any obligations. We would like to clarify that Telekom Malaysia and Malaysian Football League were unable to mutually agree on several fundamental commercial terms necessary for the intended collaboration.”
“Despite several extensions of the agreed deadline to sign the definitive agreement, both parties were unable to arrive at an understanding.”
“In view of this, on 1 November 2018, Telekom Malaysia duly notified MFL in writing that the partnership has come to an end.”
TMJ in response to Telekom Malaysia’s statement issued tweets claiming that Telekom Malaysia can drag him to court if he was lying.
The Chairman of the Malaysia Football League further added that “This is what happens when you mix politics with sports.”
If TM feel MFL is lying, then it is easy, take the Chairman to court. This is what happens when you mix politics with sports. Dulu tak ada problem pun, signed for eight years. Datang big bos baru, habis semua. Football jadi mangsa.
— HRH Crown Prince of Johor (@HRHJohorII) 18 March 2019
Although the Malaysia Football League had asked all teams participating in the Liga Malaysia not to worry over the issue, the ‘mess’ is something everyone will be watching closely as it involves grants to teams participating in the league.
The fact that TMJ is one of the most influential and respected figures in Malaysia football only draws more attention towards the issue with many likely to take TMJ’s side due to his contribution towards changing the landscape of Malaysian football in the last five years.
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This article is brought to us by our Sports Writers Club resident columnist – Cyril Dason.
