KUCHING: The Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) has appointed a team of elite match officials from Qatar to officiate the 2025-2026 Malaysia Cup final between Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) and Kuching City FC on May 23 at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil.
Leading the officiating crew is Mohammed Ahmed Al Shammari as referee, alongside assistant referees Yousuf Aref Al Shamari and Khaled Aiad Khalaf, while Meshari Ali Alshamari will handle VAR duties.
All four officials are FIFA-accredited referees and part of the Asian Football Confederation’s (AFC) elite panel.
According to FAM, the appointment was made following an official request from the Malaysian Football League (MFL), with the national body seeking the best possible officiating standards for the prestigious 99th edition of the tournament.
The Qatari officials are no strangers to major football stages.
FAM revealed that the referee team had previously officiated in high-profile competitions including the FIFA Under-17 World Cup and the Qatar Emir Cup final, highlighting their experience in handling high-pressure encounters.
The move also continues FAM’s precedent of bringing in foreign referees for major domestic finals.
Previously, Japanese officials led by referee Takuto Okabe were appointed for the 2019 FA Cup final between Perak and Kedah at the same venue.
The Malaysia Cup final this season carries added significance, with Kuching City chasing the biggest achievement in the club’s history against heavily favoured giants JDT under the Bukit Jalil lights.
FAM stressed that every aspect of the final, including officiating, would be held to the highest standards in line with the reputation of Malaysia’s oldest and most prestigious football competition.
