SHAH ALAM, Nov 24 — The Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) have given an assurance that only the best local referees will handle this year’s Malaysia Cup final at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil on Saturday.
FAM secretary-general Noor Azman Rahman said they would name match officials of calibre and recognised by world governing body Fifa to ensure the smooth running of the epic title showdown between Selangor FC and Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT).
“The final will go smoothly (with no issues involving match officials) because we have listed only the best. All three match officials (referee and two linesmen) have Fifa accreditation,” he said when met after announcing the collaboration between FAM and Puma here today.
The quality of match officials has often been a hot topic in the Malaysia League (M-League), with various criticisms levelled by fans.
FAM have eight Fifa referees in their ranks, namely Razlan Joffri Ali, Amirul Izwan Yaacob, Mohd Nazmi Nasaruddin, Suhaizi Sukri, Tuan Mohd Yaasub Tuan Mohd Hanafiah and Usaid Jamal.
This year’s Malaysia Cup showdown will see two giants colliding, with Selangor having won the Cup a record 33 times while JDT have lifted the Cup twice.
In the Malaysia Cup semi-finals, the Red Giants, who are coached by Tan Cheng Hoe, notched a 3-2 aggregate win over Terengganu FC (TFC) while the Southern Tigers, who clinched the Super League for a ninth straight time and the FA Cup this season, brushed aside Sabah FFC 4-1 on aggregate.
Meanwhile, Noor Azman said the FAM Disciplinary Committee and Legal Unit are studying the reports of the ruckus that happened after the TFC-Selangor semi-final match at the Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin Stadium in Kuala Terengganu on Monday.
“FAM have received the reports from the match commissioner and Malaysian Football League (MFL). We will know their decision soon,” he said. — Bernama
