PFA FORMED FOR ?

The Professional Footballer's Association of Malaysia (PFA Malaysia), slated for launching on Thursday, will look after the welfare of professional players in the Malaysian League (ML).PFA Malaysia general secretary E.R. Subramaniam said it would represent players in matters like salary payments, termination of contracts in mid-season, terms of contracts and others for the benefit of players."

All active players are eligible to register as members while retired players can register as affiliated members of PFA Malaysia," he told Bernama here Monday.Subramaniam said PFA would also look after the welfare of retired players by holding courses to equip them with other skills."Membership is also open to woman playing in the national league and those representing the states.

We will also educate young players on career as professional footballers."He said the formation of the association had approval from the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) and consent of its president Sultan Ahmad Shah."We had also received approval from the Sports Commissioner's Office on July 6 to legally form the association," he said.

PFA Malaysia will become a member of the Federation of International Associations of Professional Footballers (FIFPro), an international body like the Federation of International Football Associations (FIFA).FIFPro has 42 members worldwide including Japan, India, Indonesia, Australia and New Zealand.

The Malaysian League had been saddled with a host of problems by associations like arrears in players wages and money owed to the Employees Provident Fund (EPF), reported to be about RM5.4 million.