PETALING JAYA: The Malaysian Football League (MFL) have confirmed that foreign referees will be brought in to officiate the Malaysia Cup Final between Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) and Kuching City.
MFL president Datuk Ab Ghani Hassan (pic) announced that an official request has been submitted to the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) to secure four international officials for the final, set to take place at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil on May 23.
The team will include a head referee, two assistants and a video assistant referee (VAR) specialist.
The decision was made to maintain the highest level of officiating for what is expected to be a feisty clash.
"The Malaysia Cup final is a high-profile action. With international-standard officiating, I believe it will enhance the match experience for players, team officials, and supporters alike," Ab Ghani said in a statement on Friday (May 15).
He added that the move would allow local referees to observe and learn in bid to improve domestic standards.
While it involves high costs, it is not unprecedented.
The MFL previously engaged Japanese referees for the 2019 FA Cup final between Kedah and Perak, a move that was well-received by fans and teams at the time.
The current decision follows a proposal raised during the MFL’s discussion with league partners on April 29.
