Youth and Sports Minister Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman will meet the Malaysia Under 23 (B-23) head coach Ong Kim Swee to find a solution on the possibility of the national football team withdrawing from the Asian Games next month.

He said the issue of releasing players by the national team to represent the country required detailed discussions, including views from the sports executive chairman of every state.   

“I will meet Ong to discuss this, and I am also in the process of meeting the state sports exco and (sports ministers) of every state.

“We will call them, sit down and talk to find a solution together in the interest of national sports,” he said at a media conference after the fifth Youth Council of Malaysia’s skilled youth convention here today.

Ong was reported to have said the B-23 team was likely to withdraw from competing in the meet at Jakarta-Palembang if they fail to gather enough players, due to the refusal of several teams to release their players.

The Asian Games from Aug 18 to Sep 2 clashes with Malaysia Cup schedule.

Under the rules, every team needs to list at least 10 players as a condition to participate.

- Bernama