Datuk Stuart Ramalingam’s final ‘assignment’ as Malaysian Football League (MFL) chief executive officer is tonight’s FA Cup final.
Stuart will leave the organisation on Sept 5 after a ‘League Partners Meeting’. His replacement will likely be announced then.
“Please wait for MFL to release a statement about my replacement,” he said.
Stuart will be on a sabbatical before taking up a new job in the corporate sector. He, however, will continue as Road To Gold coordinator, calling it a “national service”.
Two names were linked as Stuart’s replacement, Stanley Bernard, the chief executive officer of KL City Football Club, and Christopher Raj, chairman of the Football Association of Malaysia’s Media, Communications and Public Relations Committee.
Both denied that they were in the running for the job.
Bernard said: “I’m 100 per cent focused on Kuala Lumpur City. I’m a KL lad and played for the club. I want to return it to its glory days.
“I have not been interviewed, nor was I called for one. I have a big challenge with KL City as we hope to get new investors or owners after KL Football Association’s election on Sept 7.”
Datuk Seri Megat D Shahriman Zaharudin, president of the Paralympic Council of Malaysia, is interested in taking a 51 per cent stake in the team as he has big plans for the club.
“Megat Shahriman has made an interesting offer. He knows the sporting scene. I’m waiting to see if we can move forward with his proposal,” said Bernard.
Raj laughed when asked if he was going to replace Stuart.
“No, that is not going to happen. I am happy with FAM and my public relations company,” said Raj, CEO of Shekhinah PR. “Whoever replaces Stuart will have big shoes to fill. It is not an easy job.”
Stuart is currently on leave but is helping with the FA Cup final between Selangor and Johor Darul Ta’zim.
The final will be fiery due to the intense rivalry between the teams.
In yesterday’s pre-match press conference, JDT’s assistant coach Jose Lopez and defender Junior Eldstal gave standard replies to questions – “No comment” and “I have nothing to say”. Their press conference ended after two minutes.
On Thursday, concerns were raised about the official ball, as there were issues with the Selangor team logo – printed on the ball – which displays words in Jawi script, that may offend Muslims.
Earlier this week, JDT owner Tunku Ismail Ibrahim questioned the significance of the Sultan of Selangor’s Cup, an annual event that pits Selangor against Singapore.
The Selangor Royal Office, the official channel of the Selangor royal household, responded by issuing a statement: “Those who know history will understand and celebrate Sultan of Selangor’s Cup”.
It added that the tournament was about tradition, history, friendship, and sporting goodwill. The posting also called for an end to football violence following the acid attack on its player, Faisal Halim, on May 5.
Three days before the attack on Faisal, Terengganu FC footballer Akhyar Rashid was assaulted during a ‘robbery’ in Kuala Terengganu. On May 7, JDT player Safiq Rahim had his car’s rear windscreen smashed by unknown assailants near the club’s training centre in Jalan Seri Gelam, Johor Bahru.
At last year’s FA Cup final between Kuala Lumpur City and JDT, a KL fan claimed he was assaulted by a member of the Johor Military Force at the Sultan Ibrahim Stadium in Johor.
It was not the first time the two royal houses have had a public spat.
In June, Tunku Ismail took issue with MFL for reducing its penalties against Selangor, who gave JDT a walkover for the season-opener – the Charity Shield – following the acid attack on Faisal.
Selangor requested a postponement after Faisal’s attack, but it was rejected. It was fined RM100,000, given a three-point deduction, and ordered to play the return match against JDT behind closed doors. It also had to pay compensation for losses incurred by MFL and JDT.
Following a statement from the Sultan of Selangor, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah, who expressed his “anger” at MFL for handing out the tough penalties without “empathy and humanity over the cruelty that has taken place”, the fine was reduced to RM60,000, the three-point deduction was cancelled, and the ban on spectators lifted.
The FA Cup final is at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil. Kickoff is 9pm.
