Liga M3

The Malaysia M3 League ( ms, Liga M3 Malaysia) is the third level football league of the Malaysian football league system. It operates on a system of promotion and relegation with the Malaysia Premier League and the Malaysia M4 League.http://johorsoutherntigers.com.my/14-state-and-social-league-organisers-sign-agreement-to-join-m5-league/ 14 STATE AND SOCIAL LEAGUE ORGANISERS SIGN AGREEMENT TO JOIN M5 LEAGUE The league was created as part of the Malaysian Football League's plan to reform the Malaysian football league structure. It is the replacement of the former Malaysia FAM League.

The Malaysia M3 League is contested by 20 clubs where the season runs from March to November with a Ramadan break for a month depending on the Islamic calendar. Teams play 26 matches each, totalling 306 matches in the season. Most games are played on Fridays, with a few games played during weekdays.

History

In 2018, the Malaysia M3 League was supposed to form the fourth division of the Malaysian football league system, however after the Football Association of Malaysia confirmed a reform of the Malaysia FAM League to return to a knockout competition format, the league was announced as a replacement for the Malaysia FAM League to form the de facto third division of the Malaysian football league system.

After a rebranding of the Football Malaysia Limited Liability Partnership (FMLLP) to the Malaysian Football League (MFL) in March 2018, the company announced a reform of the lower league competitions in Malaysia.https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2018/03/349279/tmj-thank-you-malaysian-football-and-goodbye TMJ: Thank you Malaysian football and goodbyehttps://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/sport/johor-crown-prince-resigns-as-fam-president-appointed-as-10076070 Johor crown prince resigns as FAM President, appointed as Malaysia Football League chairman In 2019, a new subsidiary of the company was formed, known as the Amateur Football League (AFL) which was tasked to manage the new third division and below. The AFL officially confirmed the formation of the Malaysia M3 League and the Malaysia M4 League as the third and fourth divisions of the Malaysian football league system as amateur league competitions.

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. While 14 groups of teams competing throughout Malaysia which ran in parallel formed the Malaysia M4 League. 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 teams. At the end of the season, the top team from each group of the league would be promoted to the Malaysia Premier League. 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.

For the 2021 season, the AFL announced format changes for the Malaysia M3 League and Malaysia M4 League in preparation for the transition of the amateur teams to become semi-professional by 2022. However due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and the restrictions imposed by the government to combat it, AFL postponed the start of the season to late 2021, before later cancelling it altogether.

Clubs

20 clubs have played in the Malaysia M3 League since 2022.

Champions, runners-up and third places

Wins by the clubs

Season

The following 14 clubs contested the league in its inaugural season, including the 3 clubs from the 2018 Malaysia FAM League. 10 clubs were promoted from the 2018 Malaysia M4 League (''previously known as the Malaysia M5 League''). 4 clubs have withdrawn from the competition and 1 club was invited by the organizer to participate in the competition which were Tun Razak City F.C.

'' Note :''

''1)Third-tier also represents the previous third-tier in the Malaysian football league system which was the Malaysia FAM League (2008–2018)''

''2)Batu Dua changed their name to Harini F.C.''

Other clubs

The following clubs are not competing in the Malaysia M3 League during the 2019 season, but competed in the third-tier or Malaysia M3 League for at least one season.

'' Note : Third-tier also represents the previous third-tier in the Malaysian football league system which was the Malaysia FAM League (2008–2018)''

Players

Foreign players

* 2019: 2 foreign players.
* 2020: 4 foreign players, including 2 under 20 years old players.
* 2021–: foreign players banned.

Records and achievements

Golden Boot winners

Below is the list of golden boot winners of the Malaysia M3 League since its inception as a third-tier league in 2019.

See also

* FAM Football Awards
* History of Malaysian football
* Expatriate footballers in Malaysia
* List of foreign Malaysian League players

References

{{AFC third leagues

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Mal
Football in Malaysia