KUCHING: As Malaysia reels from the FIFA transfer ban on nine football clubs over unpaid salaries and poor financial management, a bold grassroots idea is calling on property developers to help build a more sustainable football ecosystem.
FIFA, the world football governing body, has imposed transfer bans on nine Malaysian clubs, including Super League outfits Terengganu FC and Kelantan Darul Naim FC, over unresolved financial disputes and regulatory breaches.
The seven other clubs listed in FIFA’s registration ban database are Sarawak United, Kelantan FC, Kelantan FA, PT Athletic FC, Perlis, Melaka United FC, and Melaka United.
Amidst these bans and mounting financial woes, football pundit Roshan Narayan has suggested a bold shift in strategy urging major property developers to move away from traditional commercial projects and towards football driven community hubs.
He suggested that instead of constructing more shopping malls or high rise apartments, many of which remain underutilised , companies like Sime Darby Property and Sunway Group could consider building integrated, sports centric developments.
These hubs would combine modern stadiums or sporting facilities with shopping malls and affordable studio or family apartments that fans could rent on matchdays.
“They get to have dinner at these malls, enjoy the facilities, then hop on over to the stadium for matchday,” Roshan told Sarawak Tribune on Wednesday (May 7).
He described the idea as a “mini ecosystem” where each component supports the others.
With Malaysian football rocked by bans and ballooning debts, Roshan believes this concept offers a long-term solution by embedding football into broader commercial and social infrastructure.
The vision includes using such venues to host concerts, school sports days, and public events, creating year round community engagement and generating steady revenue for clubs.
“You create a mini ecosystem that feeds off one another… These facilities can also host concerts or a school sports day,” he added.
Roshan further suggested that this model be replicated across every State and Federal Territory, with developers given a financial stake in local clubs — essentially putting “skin in the game” and encouraging long-term commitment.
“I don’t think it’s just mismanagement. People forget that a football club runs like a company , you have your CEO, finance team, and staff.
“If the staff aren’t paid, how can the whole system function? Everyone focuses on the athletes, but often they’re the last to get paid.
“The issue isn’t just the lack of money, it’s how the money flows. Clubs might be operating on tight budgets, but the real problem is deeper,” he said.
He added that while the proposed solution won’t fix things overnight, it could help generate revenue once these hubs become destinations for families and local communities.
“Instead of building underused malls, we should invest in long-term solutions that can yield returns within five to six years or even sooner, if done right,” he said.
Though still informal, the idea comes at a time when Malaysian football governance is under mounting scrutiny, and stakeholders are urgently looking for innovative solutions to prevent further collapse.
