A call to place Malaysian League referees under the helms of an independent organisation to prevent unwanted conflicts has been made.

The crown prince of Johor, Tengku Mahkota Johor Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim (TMJ) said the football referees need to be placed under a neutral body to avoid conflict of interest.

“There is an urgent need to protect the integrity of the game so that the Laws of the Game and Fair Play get the right interpretation.

“This neutral body will ensure there is no suspicion, allegation or doubt raised for fair decisions as the debt of pleasing the paymaster has its burden,” TMJ said in a statement posted on Johor Southern Tiger’s Facebook page.

Currently, the referees fall under the jurisdiction of the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM).

Certain quarters have alleged that the referees’ decisions have been mostly against the Johor football team lately.