PERAK FA’s financial crisis got a whole lot worse on Tuesday when it was learnt that Inland Revenue Board (IRB) had send it a letter requesting payment for an outstanding RM400,000 from the 1998 season.
According to a Perak FA official the letter from the IRB arrived on Tuesday.
“This came as a real shocker to us. Just as we are trying to solve our financial problems another crisis crops up,” said the official, who asked not to be identified.
The Perak FA has not paid its players and coaches since April and have been travelling for away Malaysia Cup matches using funds collected by their fans.
Perak FA acting president Datuk Muhammad Muhiyuddin Abdullah has written to Menteri Besar Datuk Nizar Jamaluddin hoping that his request of RM1.8 million will come through as soon as possible.
For the last five years the Perak FA has been receiving RM2.8 million annually from the state government.
To Muhammad Muhiyuddin’s credit he has been able to clear certain debts that had been left over by the previous management.
The Perak FA’s budget overran this year due to their involvement in the AFC Cup and even the Asian Football Confederation’s (AFC) allocation of US$80,000 (RM264,000) for the campaign was not enough.
Perak, who are through to the quarter-finals of the AFC Cup, continue their campaign on Sept 5 and if they are forced to withdraw, they face a huge fine and a two-year minimum suspension.
The Perak FA has also made a request to the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) seeking its help to pay the players’ salaries.
The FAM players status committee will meet next Wednesday to discuss the issue as Perak are not the only team facing a financial crisis. Sarawak, Penang, Pahang and Malacca are in the same boat.
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