Malaysia A1 Semi-Pro League

Last updated

A1 Semi-Pro League
Liga A1 Semi-pro.jpg
Organising body Malaysian Football League (MFL)
Founded13 January 2019;6 years ago (2019-01-13)
CountryMalaysia
South Korea
Confederation AFC
Number of clubs16
Level on pyramid2
Promotion to Malaysia Super League
Relegation to Malaysia A2 Amateur League
Domestic cup(s) Malaysia FA Cup
Malaysia Cup
MFL Challenge Cup
Current champions Melaka (1st title)
(2024–25)
Most championships Kelantan United
PIB Shah Alam
Immigration
Melaka
(1 title each)
Broadcaster(s) Astro Arena
FIFA+
Website https://the-afl.my/
Current: 2025–26 Malaysia A1 Semi-Pro League

The Malaysia A1 Semi-Pro League (Malay : Liga A1 Semi-Pro Malaysia, previously known as the Malaysia M3 League and the MBSB Bank Championship due to sponsorship reasons) is the second level football league of the Malaysian football league system. [1] The league was created as part of the Malaysian Football League's plan to reform the domestic league structure, and replacement of the former Malaysia FAM League. [2]

Contents

History

In 2018, the Malaysia M3 League was supposed to form the fourth division of the Malaysian football. However, the Football Association of Malaysia announced it as a replacement for the Malaysia FAM League to form the third division. [3] [4] [5] [6] After rebranding of the Football Malaysia Limited Liability Partnership (FMLLP) to the Malaysian Football League (MFL), the company announced a reform of the lower league competitions. [7] [8] In 2019, a new subsidiary known as the Amateur Football League (AFL), was formed. [9] The AFL officially confirmed the formation of the Malaysia M3 League and the Malaysia M4 League as the third and fourth divisions. [10]

A total of 14 clubs were confirmed to compete in the inaugural season of the newly reformed third division, with the Malaysia M3 League replacing the former Malaysia FAM League. [11] Qualified champions from the 5 FA state leagues and 9 social leagues in 2018 were promoted to the inaugural 2019 Malaysia M3 League season. For the 2020 season, the Malaysia M3 League was divided into two groups of 10 clubs. [12] At the end of the season, the top club from each group was promoted to the Malaysia Premier League. [13] This however did not happen because of the cancellation of the 2020 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and was declared null and void. [14] For the 2021 season, the AFL announced format changes in preparation for more participating teams to become professional by 2022. However, due to the pandemic, AFL postponed the start of the season to late 2021, before cancelling it altogether. [15]

Clubs

A total of 54 clubs have played in the Malaysia A1 Semi-Pro League from its inception.

Current

#ClubPrevious seasonFirst seasonNumber

of seasons

TitlesLast title
1 Flag of the Malaysian Armed Forces.svg Armed Forces 8th2018700
2 Flag of Selangor.svg Bunga Raya 4th2024–25200
3 Flag of Sarawak.svg Machan 14th2024–25200
4 Flag of Malaysia.svg Malaysian University 5th2022400
5 Flag of Perak.svg Manjung City 9th2019600
6 Flag of Perlis.svg Perlis GSA A2 League, champions2025–26100
7 Flag of Kelantan.svg Wan Tendong Stable A2 League, runners-up2025–26100
8 Flag of Johor.svg Johor Darul Ta'zim II Transfer from MFL Cup 2025–26100
9 Flag of Selangor.svg Selangor II Transfer from MFL Cup 2025–26100
10 Flag of Kedah.svg Kedah Darul Aman Expelled from Super League 2025–26100
11 Flag of Putrajaya.svg Immigration II Debut2025–26100
12 Flag of Kelantan.svg Kelantan Red Warrior Debut2025–26100
13 Flag of Kedah.svg Kedah FA Debut2025–26100
14 Flag of Perak.svg Perak FA Debut2025–26100
15 Flag of South Korea.svg Seoul Phoenix Debut2025–26100
16 Flag of Selangor.svg UM-Damansara United Debut2025–26100

Former clubs

Below are the records of clubs that have played in the A1 League since its established in 2019. Clubs in bold are in the Malaysia Super League as of the 2025–26; clubs in italic no longer exist.

Champions, runners-up, third places

YearChampionRunner-upThird place
2019 Flag of Kelantan.svg Kelantan United Flag of Sarawak.svg Kuching Flag of Kuala Lumpur Malaysia.svg Armed Forces
2020 Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic
2021Not held
2022 Flag of Selangor.svg PIB Shah Alam Flag of Kuala Lumpur Malaysia.svg Kuala Lumpur Rovers Flag of Putrajaya.svg Immigration
Flag of Perak.svg BRM FC
2023 Flag of Putrajaya.svg Immigration Flag of Kuala Lumpur Malaysia.svg Kuala Lumpur Rovers Flag of Selangor.svg Harini
2024–25 Flag of Malacca.svg Melaka Flag of Putrajaya.svg Immigration Flag of Kuala Lumpur Malaysia.svg Kuala Lumpur Rovers

Records and achievements

Golden boot winners

Below is the list of golden boot winners of the league since its inception in 2019.

SeasonPlayerClubGoals
2019 Flag of Malaysia.svg Fakhrul Zaman Kelantan United 28
2022 Flag of Malaysia.svg Firdaus Azizul Immigration 22
2023 Flag of Malaysia.svg Azim Rahim Immigration 24
2024–25 Flag of Malaysia.svg Azim Rahim Melaka 22

Foreign players

See also

References

  1. ↑ http://johorsoutherntigers.com.my/14-state-and-social-league-organisers-sign-agreement-to-join-m5-league/ Archived 22 February 2019 at the Wayback Machine 14 STATE AND SOCIAL LEAGUE ORGANISERS SIGN AGREEMENT TO JOIN M5 LEAGUE
  2. ↑ Eric Samuel (7 May 2015). "More domestic football on TV next season". The Star . Archived from the original on 27 February 2018. Retrieved 4 December 2017.
  3. ↑ "FAM Cup to be contested as knockout competition in 2019 | Goal.com Malaysia". www.goal.com. 19 December 2018. Retrieved 20 December 2023.
  4. ↑ Hashim, Firdaus (13 November 2018). "FAM Cup faces uncertainty, MFL ready to step in | New Straits Times". NST Online. Retrieved 20 December 2023.
  5. ↑ "Piala FAM 2019 | FAM". www.fam.org.my. Retrieved 20 December 2023.
  6. ↑ "FAM cadang perkenal format baharu Liga FAM". www.astroawani.com. Retrieved 9 April 2024.
  7. ↑ Noor, Rizar Mohd (25 March 2018). "TMJ: Thank you Malaysian football and goodbye | New Straits Times". NST Online. Retrieved 20 December 2023.
  8. ↑ https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/sport/johor-crown-prince-resigns-as-fam-president-appointed-as-10076070 Archived 31 October 2020 at the Wayback Machine Johor crown prince resigns as FAM President, appointed as Malaysia Football League chairman
  9. ↑ "14 amateur leagues confirmed as part of inaugural Malaysian tier five season | Goal.com Malaysia". www.goal.com. 25 March 2018. Retrieved 20 December 2023.
  10. ↑ https://www.foxsports.com.my/malaysia/46879/14-pasukan-sedia-bersaing-di-liga-m3-malaysia-2019/ Archived 28 April 2019 at the Wayback Machine 14 pasukan sedia bersaing di Liga M3 Malaysia 2019
  11. ↑ https://www.foxsports.com.my/liga-malaysia/38174/gambaran-struktur-piramid-bola-sepak-malaysia-2019/ Archived 28 April 2019 at the Wayback Machine Gambaran struktur piramid bola sepak Malaysia 2019
  12. ↑ "AFL umum penstrukturan semula Liga M3, 20 pasukan dalam saingan musim 2020". Vocket FC.
  13. ↑ "Pasukan bertanding ambil langkah positif penstrukturan Liga M3". Semuanya Bola.
  14. ↑ "M3 League cancelled due to Covid-19". New Straits Times .
  15. ↑ "M3 League competition cancelled again - AFL chairman". 14 September 2021.
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