PETALING JAYA: High-profile match officials from Qatar have been appointed to officiate the upcoming Malaysia Cup final between Johor Darul Ta'zim (JDT) and Kuching City at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil this Saturday (May 23).
The Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) announced on Wednesday (May 20) that referee Mohammed Ahmed Al-Shammari will lead the four-man team.
He will be assisted by Yousuf Aref Al-Shamari (Assistant referee one), Khaled Aiad Khalaf (Assistant referee two), and Meshari Ali Alshamari, who will operate as the video assistant referee (VAR).
All four officials are recognised as FIFA International Referees and Asian Football Confederation (AFC) elite referees.
"These officials are no strangers to the international stage," FAM said in a statement, adding that the quartet have previously managed top-level matches, including the FIFA Under-17 World Cup and the Qatar Emir Cup Final.
The decision to bring in foreign expertise follows an official request from the Malaysian Football League (MFL) to ensure top-tier officiating for the cup.
FAM said they are committed to maintaining the highest organisational standards for the showpiece event.
"The Malaysia Cup final has always been the pinnacle of domestic football. FAM are dedicated to ensuring every aspect, including refereeing, meets the reputation of Malaysia's oldest and most prestigious tournament."
