The Football Association of Malaysia's (FAM) decision to cancel three competitions under its purview is seen to be in line with the government's aim to protect the public's health amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Former National Sports Institute (ISN) chief executive officer Datuk Dr Ramlan Abdul Aziz said it was important for people to look at the cancellation of Youth Cup (Under-19), President's Cup (Under-21), as well as the Malaysia Premier Futsal League (MPFL) in this context.
"Although they (adolescents and youths) are not considered high-risk for contracting severe symptoms and are in general more healthy than those who are older and prone to illnesses, it is possible that if infected, they could pass on the infection to their family members who are more vulnerable.
"Any decision should therefore first and foremost take public health interest into consideration. After all, these players are still young, and they are not playing at the professional level, and it's not as if they are the sole breadwinners for their families," Dr Ramlan said in a statement issued by the Malaysian Football League today.
Dr Ramlan, who is also a sports medicine specialist, said it would be difficult for FAM to monitor the Youth and President's cup competitions as compared to the Premier League and Super League, where strict standard operating procedures (SOP) are observed at the stadiums.
Senior sports medicine lecturer from the University of Malaya, Assoc Prof Dr Abdul Halim Mokhtar concurred with the view, saying the difficulty faced by FAM in implementing strict guidelines for competitions held in open venues was the main concern.
"We believe this is the basis of FAM's decision, given that matches in the President's Cup and Youth Cup which is participated by youth state teams are held at open fields, and that it is difficult to provide a safe space for all stakeholders such as players, teams, officials and match staff," he explained.
UiTM Shah Alam's Faculty of Sports Sciences and Recreation senior lecturer Sadek Mustaffa meanwhile, also sees the cancellation of these competitions as a way to ease the financial burden of the teams involved following the COVID-19 pandemic.
He also agreed with FAM's proposal to provide youth and teenagers the opportunity to be integrated with their respective elite teams in the Premier League and Super League following the cancellations.
"Apart from that, it is advisable for these competitions to be commenced much earlier next year, in line with the schedule for the 2020 Malaysia Games," added Sadek.
FAM secretary-general Stuart Ramalingam in a statement yesterday said that the parent body had made the decision to cancel the Youth Cup, Presidential Cup and MPFL competition as football and futsal are categorised as contact sports, which is among the activities currently prohibited by MKN.
-- BERNAMA
Bernama
Tue Jun 02 2020
It would be difficult for FAM to monitor the Youth and President's cup competitions as compared to the Premier League and Super League. - FILEpic
AWANI 7:45 [18/04/2024] – Empat letusan sehari | Setuju secara dasar | Misi ke Gaza | Kutipan cecah lebih RM1 juta
- Gunung Ruang meletus, Indonesia keluar amaran tertinggi, MetMalaysia pantau
- Kerajaan setuju peruntukan pembangkang, PN tengok syarat dulu
- Gaza Kami Datang, 19 aktivitis Malaysia berlepas ke Istanbul
- Sheriff ucap terima kasih, tayangan awal kutip RM1juta
- Kerajaan setuju peruntukan pembangkang, PN tengok syarat dulu
- Gaza Kami Datang, 19 aktivitis Malaysia berlepas ke Istanbul
- Sheriff ucap terima kasih, tayangan awal kutip RM1juta
Menara Merdeka 118 terima pensijilan LEED Platinum
PNBMV berkata pensijilan LEED mengiktiraf pematuhan projek itu selari dengan kriteria yang digariskan dalam sistem penarafan LEED.
Pemandu teksi cedera disamun empat penjenayah menyamar sebagai penumpang
Teksi jenis Proton Iswara milik mangsa berusia 72 tahun itu, turut dilarikan kumpulan penyamun tersebut, selain dompet dan barangan peribadi lain.
Industri permainan video Malaysia dijangka catat hasil AS$649 juta tahun ini
Pencapaian dalam bidang ini memerlukan usaha bersepadu daripada semua pihak berkepentingan, dalam dan luar negara.
Pengurus kargo cederakan isteri dan anak, jalani hukuman penjara dua tahun
Hakim mengeluarkan waran penahanan terhadap Sritharan yang dibebaskan dengan jaminan sementara menunggu rayuannya, untuk dibawa ke penjara.
Kutipan awal filem Sheriff: Narko Integriti cecah lebih RM1 juta
Syafiq yang dilabel sebagai ‘Raja Plot Twist’ oleh penggemar filem di Malaysia pastinya tidak akan menghampakan penonton dengan jalan cerita yang penuh teka-teki.
Sanusi cadang PN ketengah calon Melayu di Kuala Kubu Baharu
Ketua Pengarah Pilihan Raya Perikatan Nasional (PN), Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor memaklumkan beliau akan membawa cadangan supaya gabungan itu mempertaruhkan calon Melayu bagi pilihan raya kecil (PRK) Dewan Undangan Negeri (DUN) Kuala Kubu Baharu.
Perkembangan semasa letusan Gunung Ruang
Ketua Biro Kompas TV Manado, Susan Margaret membawakan perkembangan terkini letusan Gunung Ruang di Indonesia.
Sanusi kahwin lagi: Antara 'dok pahang' dengan duduk di Pahang
Menteri Besar Kedah, Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor maklumkan kapsyen bertulis 'dok pahang' yang dimuatnaik dalam akaun Facebook miliknya beberapa hari lepas membabitkan saranan berkahwin pada bula Syawal membawa maksud tidak faham.
Johor jadi negeri paling maju dalam dua tahun
Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim memberitahu, Johor dijangka menjadi negeri termaju di Malaysia dalam tempoh dua tahun susulan pelaksanaan dua zon ekonomi khas di negeri itu.
COVID-19: Tiga kes kematian dicatat, ini lima tumpuan kenyataan media KKM
Terdapat 108 kes positif COVID-19 yang sedang dirawat di Unit Rawatan Rapi (ICU), di mana 47 kes memerlukan bantuan pernafasan.
Sultan Perak, Sultan Selangor, Sultan Johor antara yang hadir ke Istana Negara
Pertemuan itu dijangka bagi membincangkan beberapa cadangan yang dipersembahkan oleh kerajaan terutamanya mengenai penularan COVID-19.
Pusat Jagaan Darul Hanan ambil langkah pengasingan penghuni, pekerja
Difahamkan seorang wanita warga emas yang baru masuk ke situ minggu lepas disahkan COVID-19 kelmarin.
COVID-19: Tiga lagi sekolah di Perak diarah tutup
Sebanyak tiga sekolah di Perak diarah tutup selama tujuh hari mulai hari ini selepas terdapat jangkitan wabak COVID-19 dalam kalangan pelajar di sekolah berkenaan.
Kluster Penjara Jawi: Seorang lagi pegawai penjara positif COVID-19
Pegawai wadar itu bertugas di blok baharu yang menjaga sekumpulan banduan yang dijangkiti COVID-19 sebelum ini.
SMK Lubuk China dan SK Telok Berembang di Melaka diarah tutup
Dua buah sekolah di Masjid Tanah, Melaka diarah tutup selepas seorang pelajar dari kedua-dua sekolah berkenaan disahkan positif COVID-19.
Cawangan utama BSN Kota Kinabalu ditutup, kakitangan positif COVID-19
Cawangan BSN ditutup bermula hari ini bagi melaksanakan kerja-kerja pembersihan menyeluruh.
Jepun tarik balik larangan perjalanan ke Malaysia, 11 negara lain
Sebelas negara lain termasuk China, Taiwan, Australia, New Zealand, Singapura dan Korea Selatan.
Maaflah jika Abah ini mula menggunakan rotan! - Muhyiddin
Katanya, selepas ini hukuman kompaun akan dikenakan tanpa mengira pangkat dan darjat terhadap mereka yang melanggar prosedur operasi standard (SOP) berkaitan COVID-19.
COVID-19: 691 kes baharu dilaporkan, majoriti di Penjara Alor Setar
Jumlah kes baharu positif COVID-19 yang dilaporkan hari ini ialah sebanyak 691.