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SHAH ALAM – Prolonged or recurring unpaid salaries in Malaysian football are not simply a sign of financial hardship but a symptom of deeper weaknesses in governance, financial planning and risk management, according to former Selangor manager Zakaria Rahim.
He said salary disputes should not be viewed solely as cash flow problems, as they often reflect poor financial discipline and unsustainable club management practices.
“To me, unpaid salaries are not merely a financial issue – they are a reflection of weak financial planning and governance.
“The issue goes far beyond cash flow. It is fundamentally a governance and sustainability problem,” he said in an interview with Sinar Daily.
Zakaria said the issue had persisted for years because some clubs continued operating on budgets that were not backed by stable and sustainable sources of income.
Instead, many relied heavily on state funding, corporate sponsorships or individual benefactors to finance their operations.
"When those funding sources were reduced or withdrawn, clubs struggled to meet contractual obligations, including player salaries," he said.
He added that another recurring problem was clubs committing to player contracts without having sufficient financial certainty to fulfil them throughout the season.
"Clubs should only sign contracts they are confident they can honour throughout the season," he said.
Commenting on the financial constraints faced by clubs such as Kedah Darul Aman FC (KDA), Zakaria said such challenges could happen to any professional football club, including those in more established leagues.
However, he stressed that the real issue lies in how clubs prepare for and manage financial uncertainty.
"If salary delays become prolonged or recurring, it suggests weaknesses in financial planning, risk management and governance. Clubs need contingency plans instead of depending on a single income source," he said.
While acknowledging that each club faced different financial circumstances, Zakaria cautioned against oversimplifying individual cases without knowing the full picture.
He said the broader lesson was that professional clubs must adopt stronger financial discipline and improve governance structures to ensure long-term sustainability.
Looking ahead, Zakaria said Malaysian clubs should focus on developing sustainable business models rather than relying predominantly on external funding.
He said recurring income should come from multiple sources, including sponsorships and commercial partnerships, matchday revenue, merchandise sales, broadcasting distributions, youth player development, player transfers and digital fan engagement initiatives.
"Diversifying income is essential because relying on just one or two sources increases financial risk.
"Ultimately, clubs should operate more like sustainable businesses while preserving their sporting ambitions," he said.
His remarks come amid ongoing concerns over unpaid salaries involving Kedah Darul Aman FC (KDA), which has faced financial difficulties in settling its outstanding obligations.
In March last year, Kedah Menteri Besar and Kedah Football Association (KFA) president Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor said the state government and KFA were collectively bearing about RM200,000 monthly to settle the club’s outstanding debts.
