Malaysian States League

Malaysian States League
Country Malaysia
Confederation AFC
Founded 1909 (1909)
Divisions Perlis League
Kedah League
Penang League
Perak League
Selangor League
Negeri Sembilan League
Melaka League
Johor Darul Ta’zim League
Kelantan League
Terengganu League
Pahang League
Sabah League
Sarawak League
Kuala Lumpur League
Level on pyramid 4-6
Relegation to State District League

The Malaysian States League are a state level football league competition in Malaysia. Malaysia consists of thirteen states and three federal territories, separated by the South China Sea, with eleven states and two federal territories (Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya) in Peninsular Malaysia, and two states and one federal territory (Labuan) in East Malaysia (Borneo). Each of the states has its own set of football league, and some may have multiple divisions with promotion and relegation rules among them.[1] All leagues in all states run in parallel.

The leagues has a hierarchical format with promotion and relegation between leagues at different levels, allowing even the smallest club the hypothetical possibility of ultimately rising to the very top of the system. The exact number of clubs varies from year to year as clubs join and leave leagues or fold altogether, but an estimated average of 10 clubs per division implies that hundreds of teams are members of a league in the Malaysian men's football league system.

History

Football arrived in Malaysia (Malaya at that time) with the British. The locals soon picked up the game, and before long it was the country's leading sport. Towards the end of the 19th century, football was one of the central pillars of most sports clubs in Malaya. However, it was not structured. Even when the Selangor Amateur Football League took shape in 1905 – which ensured proper administration and organisation – the competition was confined only to clubs in Kuala Lumpur.

The earliest recorded state football league took place in Penang, where YMCA won the league in 1909.[2] The other earliest recorded winners for state football leagues were Johor in 1922 (P.W.D.A.A.), Malacca in 1929 (Malacca Chinese FA), Negeri Sembilan in 1929 (Nilai Club), Perak in 1932 (Perak Chinese RC) and Selangor in 1935 (Rangers).[2] Alongside the leagues, cup competitions also take place.[2]

By 1933 the football of Malaysia was founded as Football Association of Malaysia (FAM), which managed the local football scene at that time.[3] By 1954, FAM joined FIFA as a member in the AFC.

Overview

The states football league system consists of a pyramid of leagues, bound together by the principle of promotion and relegation. A certain number of the most successful clubs in each league can rise to a higher league, whilst those that finish at the bottom of their league can find themselves sinking down a level. In addition to sporting performance, promotion is usually contingent on meeting criteria set by the higher league, especially concerning appropriate facilities and finances.

In theory it is possible for a lowly local amateur club to rise to the pinnacle of the Malaysian game and become champions of the Malaysia Super League. As the main leagues in Malaysia consist of three tiers, it is possible for a new team to become a champions in just three years if they perform well within the pyramid.

The top three levels contain one division each and are nationwide in scope. Below this, the levels have progressively more parallel leagues, which each cover progressively smaller geographic areas. Many leagues have more than one division. At the lower levels the existence of leagues becomes intermittent. There are also leagues in various parts of the country which are not officially part of the system as they do not have formal agreements with the football associations and run by independent organizers with mostly was held in forms of carnival style where the leagues duration is just couple of days of months. Clubs from state leagues may, if they feel they meet the appropriate standard of play and have suitable facilities, apply to join a league which does form part of the system.

The fourth levels of the Malaysian football league system consist of leagues that runs in parallel. The leagues which are managed by FAM are the Malaysia People's Football League and Malaysia IPT Football League. All clubs in Malaysia People's Football League and Malaysia IPT Football League are amateur. The fourth level also consists of Malaysia States Leagues, which are organized by 14 different states football associations and runs in parallel to the one that are runs by the FAM. It is a semi-professional league consisting of amateur, professional, and company clubs from all over the respective states in Malaysia which compete in their own regional state league. It has multiple divisions within it.

There are other levels after this which the leagues run within their regional, city, district or sub-district areas which are lesser known. Most of the teams are amateur levels which may join the upper-tier level if they want to go further with their team.

Promotion and relegation rules for the top four levels

  1. Malaysia Super League (level 1, 12 teams): The bottom two teams are relegated.
  2. Malaysia Premier League (level 2, 12 teams): The top two automatically promoted. The bottom two are relegated.
  3. Malaysia FAM League (level 3, 18 teams): The top two teams are automatically promoted. Currently there are no relegation in this league. Sometimes, teams might withdraw for financial reason and might be given permission to play in States League.
  4. Malaysia People's Football League, Malaysia States Leagues and Malaysia IPT Football League (level 4, various teams each, running in parallel): The champions in each division might get promoted to the Malaysia FAM League if they want to play at the national level, as long as they fulfill the requirements in terms of club preparation, account balance and other rules set by FAM.

League system

The table below shows the current structure of the system. For each division, its official name, sponsorship name (which differs from its historic name) and number of clubs is given. At levels 1–3, each division promotes to the division(s) that lie directly above it and relegates to the division(s) that lie directly below it. Below that level, individual league articles detail promotion and relegation arrangements.

Level four in the pyramid consist of multiple leagues run in parallel such as Malaysia People's Football League and Malaysia IPT Football League which are managed by FAM while the States League are managed by their respective states football associations.

Unlike most of countries that plays football as a main game, the league system in Malaysia still consist of representative from state association, clubs from company, ministry or government agency.

Level

Leagues/divisions

IV State League

Division 1
Perlis (3 clubs)
Kedah (9 clubs)
Penang (2 clubs)[2]
Perak - Perak League (16 clubs)[2][4][5]
Selangor - Selangor Super League (19 clubs)[2][6]
Negeri Sembilan (7 clubs)[2]
Melaka - Melaka League Division 1 (16 clubs)[2]
Johor - Johor Darul Ta’zim League (12 clubs)[2]
Kelantan - Datuk Seri Vida Pamoga Qu Puteh State League (7 clubs)[7]
Terengganu (8 clubs)
Pahang (12 clubs)
Sabah (8 clubs)
Sarawak (11 clubs)
Federal Territories of Malaysia - KL Permata League (10 clubs)[8]

V State League

Division 2
Melaka - Melaka League Division 2 (27 clubs)
Selangor - Selangor Premier League (43 clubs)[6]

VI State League

Division 3
Selangor - Selangor League Division 1 (55 clubs)[6]

VII State District League

Division 1
Ipoh Football League Super League[9]
Datuk Seri Vida Pamoga Qu Puteh District League[7]
Petaling Football Champions League

VIII State District League

Division 2
Ipoh Football League Premier League[10]
MPSJ Football League
MBBJ Football League
MBSA Football League

See also

References

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 11/7/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.