Nazza did not want to leave, but circumstances forced him to do so. ⁦ @MelakaUnitedSA ⁩’s silence couldn't be further tolerated, and the Thai confirmed that he has gone to ⁦ @FIFAcom ⁩ to plead his case. Read his story. Time for lads to speak up!

Naruphon severs ties with Melaka over salary arrears

PETALING JAYA: Enough is enough for Naruphon Wild Putsorn (pic).

The Thai defender has parted ways with Melaka after he was only paid his February and one quarter of his March salaries.

Naruphon has sent a letter of termination to the club on July 24, and also reported his plight to FIFA.

His agent Faidauz Azhar confirmed that the international body have responded to Naruphon’s case and Melaka would now have to state their case on the matter.

The player, fondly known as Nazza, said he was not motivated to leave, and intended to fulfil the contract but Melaka’s silence over his salary was the tipping point.

“I was put in a position and situation that affected my personal finances, my mental and emotional health. It had also put a strain on my pregnant wife and our relationship, ” said the former Buriram United and Suphanburi player.

“My lawyer reached out to find a solution and sent an official letter but there was no response. Continuous promises were made but never fulfilled. So I had to make a decision for the happiness and well-being of my family.”

Naruphon said coach Zainal Abidin Hassan understood his predicament.

“He understands my situation and wants me to stay. I am grateful to him for the opportunities to play for Melaka.

“I’ve really enjoyed the time I spent with the players and the staff. We were coming together nicely as a team and we could have done something great.”

Without a club now, Naruphon said he would spend time with his wife and reflect on his future.

“My family have had a rough first half of the year with this whole situation, so I’m taking a step back to reflect and see how we want to move forward from here, ” he said.

“The stuff off the pitch has been a headache for me and I wouldn’t want any other player to be in this situation. I’ve learned a lot about how Malaysian football works.

“The governing bodies of the league and world football have set laws and rules of the game. These must be enforced to protect all parties involved, otherwise players will be taken advantage of and their lives will be ruined.”

The Mousedeer are already in hot water for failing to settle their players’ salary arrears before the stipulated deadline on Jan 31. They were given time by the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) to solve it before the movement control order (MCO).

For not meeting the Jan 31 deadline, Melaka were docked three points and are languishing in 11th spot in the 12-team Super League with just three points.

With this new development, one could expect the team to face further points deduction, and more players may follow Naruphon’s move as they are growing frustrated and jaded over the team’s financial mismanagement.