Neverending story: B. Sathianathan, together with Sandro Mendonca and Taylor Regan, are fighting for their rights against Sarawak United again.
PETALING JAYA: World football governing body FIFA have asked Sarawak United to pay up wages owed to their former players and coaches but the club remain on radio silence.
And that has irked former technical director B. Sathianathan, Australian centreback Taylor Regan and Brazilian playmaker Sandro Mendonca.
They revealed that Sarawak United still owed them months of wages despite a decision to pay up by FIFA.
The club president is Datuk Posa Majais, who is also the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) vice-president.
Regan, who joined them in 2021, said the management still owed him RM541,000.
He vented his frustration for their silence and hoped FAM would interfere.
“The management need to settle the debt. I think FAM need to seriously consider revoking their licence and give it instead to the Sarawak state government,” said 34-year-old Regan.
“This is also what the fans want. They want the original team back, led by the state government.
“Other state clubs have worked hard to build a strong reputation for Malaysian football in Asia but the management here make the competition look unprofessional.
“Why don’t FAM help the people whom they were supposed to protect?” questioned Regan, who will get help from his lawyers to settle the issue.
As for Mendonca, he was paid RM42,000 in September but the management still owed him RM113,416.
“I agree with Taylor and I want the management to pay back and for FAM to step in,” said the 39-year-old Mendonca.
“FAM have the duty to protect athletes and make clubs fulfil their duties, in order for the Malaysian League to have more respect in Asia and on the international scene too.”
“It’s easy for FAM to remove Sarawak from the main league but the players suffer, not those in the management.”
Due to these issues, Sarawak United were not given the licence to compete in the Super League this year. They are currently competing in the M3, which is a league below the Super League.
Sathianathan is still owed five months of salary.
Not only that, all his advanced payments made to the players on behalf of the club, have also not been repaid.
“The big guns in FAM , MFL (Malaysian Football League) know about it. FAM should ban their own members if they are found to violate the FIFA rules and decisions,” said Sathianathan.
“Plus, the Sarawak state government claim that they have paid millions to Sarawak Football Association but it’s funny that the club still owe us money.
“I’ve made advanced payments to players on behalf of the club and bought training equipment. They have not even paid my insurance and income tax.”
Sathianathan suggested for the state government to conduct a forensic audit just to be sure that the money given by them are channelled to the rightful parties.
