Federal Territories Minister Tan Sri Annuar Musa has reiterated his call for Malaysia League (M-League) teams to have a salary cap to tackle the problem of teams facing debt and unpaid wage issues.

The Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) deputy president said this was one way to ensure sustainability and prevent a spike in spending.

"This (teams facing financial crisis) has happened because at one time we let football become 'high cost' and unsustainable, thus leading to them facing debt issues. And that's what happened to teams like Police, Kelantan and a few others.

"We have a model from countries like Japan and Australia, where the players' salaries are either capped or they follow the concept of marquee players. There are various methods, but what's important is that emerging national leagues must be properly regulated.

"This is so that we don't have a league where some teams are very strong because of their financial capabilities and some are struggling. If this happens, the league will not be exciting anymore," he told a press conference yesterday.

He is well aware of the issue, as he admitted that "it hurts" to see his beloved Kelantan football team's waning fortunes and the Kelantan Football Association (KAFA) mired in debts.

Annuar, who headed KAFA for eight years (2008-2016), said he still helped the association although he was no longer with the team.

"Even now I still help out, minus the publicity. Last year I helped them settle the Employees Provident Fund (EPF) contributions. Two years ago I also helped out. As a Kelantanese, I will surely help my state team.

"Now I am the Federal Territories Minister, so I have to overlook KLFA (Kuala Lumpur Football Association) as well. But for now, I do not meddle in either association as I want to focus on my ministry first," he said.

Kelantan, also known as 'The Red Warriors', enjoyed unprecedented success under the leadership of Annuar, especially in 2012 when they won the treble - Super League, Malaysia Cup and FA Cup.

KAFA found itself in deep trouble when the Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) ordered it to settle the more than RM920,000 outstanding wages owed to its former foreign players - Cassio Francisco de Jesus, Bruno Lopes and Alaeddine Bouslimi.

-- BERNAMA