KUCHING: The Malaysian Football League (MFL) has confirmed the appointment of foreign referees for the 2025-2026 Malaysia Cup final between Johor Darul Ta’zim FC and Kuching City FC at the National Stadium Bukit Jalil on May 23.
In a Facebook statement, MFL president Ab Ghani Hassan said the league had requested the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) to appoint four foreign match officials for the showpiece final, comprising a referee, two assistant referees and one Video Assistant Referee (VAR).
According to him, the move was aimed at ensuring officiating standards remain at the highest level while preserving the integrity and smooth flow of the highly anticipated encounter.
“With international-standard officiating, I believe it will elevate the overall match experience for players, team officials and supporters alike,” he said.
At the same time, Ab Ghani noted that the presence of foreign referees would also serve as a valuable knowledge-sharing opportunity for local officials as part of efforts to strengthen refereeing standards in Malaysian football.
He explained that the decision followed proposals raised during the MFL League Partners Discussion session held on April 29.
Although the use of foreign referees involves considerable costs, Ab Ghani stressed that the approach is not unprecedented in domestic football, citing the 2019 FA Cup final between Kedah and Perak, which was officiated by Japanese referees.
This year’s Malaysia Cup final will see defending champions JDT face Kuching City FC, who are set to make their maiden appearance in the competition’s final.
