Malaysia Premier League (1994–97)
 | |
| Country |
 Malaysia |
|---|---|
| Other club(s) from |
 Brunei,  Singapore |
| Confederation | AFC |
| Founded | April 5, 1994 |
| Folded | 1997 |
| Number of teams | 15 (from 1995) |
| Level on pyramid | 1 |
| Promotion to | None |
| Relegation to | None |
| Domestic cup(s) | Malaysia FA Cup |
| League cup(s) | Malaysia Cup |
| Last champions |
Sarawak (1997) |
| Most championships |
Singapore (1 titles) Pahang (1 titles) Sabah (1 titles) Sarawak (1 titles) |
| TV partners | RTM |
 1997 Malaysia Premier League | |
Malaysia Premier League (Malay: Liga Perdana Malaysia) was the top-tier football league in Malaysia that operated from 1994 to 1997. The league was formed and established in 1994 to succeed the Malaysian Semi-Pro Football League and became the Malaysian fully professional football league.[1] At this time the league was interchangeably referred as Malaysian League.
As per league rules for the newly formed professional league, all teams were required to register 13 full professional, two semi-professional, and only three foreign players to play for their team in the competition.[2] The inaugural season started on 5 April 1994.[2]
The league was then succeeded in 1998 by the formation of Malaysia Premier League 1 when the league was divided into two division alongside the Malaysia Premier League 2 by Football Association of Malaysia.
History
Founding
A football league competition involving the representative sides of the state football associations was first held in Malaysia in 1979. When it began, it was intended primarily as a qualifying tournament for the final knock-out stages of the Malaysia Cup. It was not until 1982 that a league trophy was introduced to recognise the winners of the preliminary stage as the league champions. Over the years, the league competition has gained important stature in its own right.
In early days, the Malaysian football league system consisted of an amateur league before the changes in 1989, when the Malaysian Semi-Pro Football League (MSPFL) was introduced which operated from 1989 to 1993.[1]
Initially the only teams allowed to participate in the league were the state FA's sides, teams representing the Armed Forces and the Police, and teams representing the neighbouring countries of Singapore and Brunei (though the Football Association of Singapore pulled out of the Malaysian League after the 1994 season following a dispute with the Football Association of Malaysia over gate receipts, and has not been involved since).
In its inaugural season 16 teams competing in the league. The teams were based from all states in Malaysia including Kuala Lumpur and addition of two foreign teams, Singapore and Brunei.
Between 1994 and 1997, there was no second level league as the top two leagues were combined. 1994 was when Malaysian football league turned professional. The MSPFL essentially became the Malaysia Premier League (Liga Perdana in Malay), a National League was added, and a second cup competition, Malaysia FA Cup, joined the existing Malaysia Cup.
The newly formed professional football league was almost in peril when a bribing and corruption scandal was discovered between 1994 and 1995. 21 players and coaches was sacked, 58 players were suspended and 126 players were questioned over corruption by Malaysian authorities.[3][4]
FAM did created another amateur league in 1992 for local clubs in Malaysia to compete, which is called the National League (Liga Nasional in Malay)[5] The league was managed by FAM outside entity, Super Club Sdn. Bhd. Unfortunately, the league only ran for one season before it folded. Some of the clubs were then evolved and joined the main league where in 1997, promotion from Malaysia FAM Cup to the professional M-League was introduced for the first time. Johor FC and NS Chempaka FC were the first two sides to be promoted that year.
Malaysia Premier League was replaced by two divisions league in 1998 consist of Malaysia Premier League 1 and Malaysia Premier League 2 (Liga Perdana 1 and Liga Perdana 2 in Malay).[6][7] During 1998, Malaysia Premier League 1 consist of 12 teams while Malaysia Premier League 2 had 8 teams.[6] 10 teams that previously qualified for Malaysia Cup which played in 1997 Malaysia Premier League was automatically qualified to Malaysia Premier League 1. The other two spots was filled by playoff round of 5 lowest teams in 1997 Malaysia Premier League and the Malaysian Olympic football team. The lowest four teams from playoff round will then put into Malaysia Premier League 2 alongside Police, Malaysia Military, Negeri Sembilan Chempaka F.C and PKN Johor. At this time the league still consist of semi-pro team where each team was allowed to register 25 players where 12 players must be a professional for Malaysia Premier League 1 and a minimum of six professional players in Malaysia Premier League 2.[6]
Teams
In its inaugural season 16 teams competing in the league. The teams were based from all states in Malaysia including Kuala Lumpur and addition of two foreign teams, Singapore and Brunei.
Teams competing in 1994 season
16 teams competing in the first season of Malaysia Premier League.[8]
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Teams competing in 1995 season
15 teams competing in the second season of Malaysia Premier League after Singapore pull from the league.[9]
Teams competing in 1996 season
15 teams competing in the third season of Malaysia Premier League.[10]
Teams competing in 1997 season
15 teams competing in the last season of Malaysia Premier League before it was succeeded by Malaysia Premier League 1.[11]
Champions
Below is the list of champions of Malaysia Premier League from 1994 until 1997.
| Year | Champions | Runners-up | Third place | Leading goalscorer | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | Singapore | Kedah | Sarawak | Mohd Hashim Mustapha (Kelantan) | |
| 1995 | Pahang | Selangor | Sarawak | Scott Ollerenshaw (Sabah) | |
| 1996 | Sabah | Kedah | Negeri Sembilan | Scott Ollerenshaw (Sabah) | |
| 1997 | Sarawak | Kedah | Sabah | Laszlo Repasi (Perak) | |
References
- 1 2 http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/00036849500000015 The demand for Semi-Pro League football in Malaysia 1989–91: a panel data approach
- 1 2 https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=i9hOAAAAIBAJ&sjid=wxMEAAAAIBAJ&pg=4726%2C4023110 Malaysia Premier League fixtures
- ↑ http://www.kosmo.com.my/kosmo/content.asp?y=2008&dt=1226&pub=Kosmo&sec=Sukan&pg=su_01.htm Pembunuh bola sepak negara
- ↑ http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/opinion/markus-lim/article/rasuah-dalam-bola-sepak-negara-di-mana-titik-penamatnya Rasuah dalam bola sepak negara: Di mana titik penamatnya?
- ↑ http://www.lbr.my/posts/74 Amanat Tengku Abdullah
- 1 2 3 http://ww1.utusan.com.my/utusan/info.asp?y=1998&dt=0111&pub=Utusan_Malaysia&sec=Sukan&pg=sp_01.htm Pemain Malaysia bebas ke Brunei
- ↑ http://ww1.utusan.com.my/utusan/info.asp?y=1998&dt=0613&pub=Utusan_Malaysia&sec=Sukan&pg=sp_03.htm Demam Piala Dunia rasuk Liga Perdana
- ↑ http://www.rsssf.com/tablesm/malay94.html 1994 Malaysia Premier League
- ↑ http://www.rsssf.com/tablesm/malay95.html 1995 Malaysia Premier League
- ↑ http://www.rsssf.com/tablesm/malay96.html 1996 Malaysia Premier League
- ↑ http://www.rsssf.com/tablesm/malay97.html 1997 Malaysia Premier League
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