Sri Pahang FC’s coaching staff and supporters were surprised to hear that Razlan Joffri Ali (main image) had been nominated as the head referee for their Malaysia Cup final against Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) on April 26.
Razlan was at the centre of one of the season’s worst officiating controversies during a league match between Perak FC and JDT in November last year.
To recap: Heading into the second half, JDT was already four goals up — two each from Romel Morales and Bergson. Things didn’t go quite as smoothly after the break, and Arif Aiman Hanapi looked increasingly agitated.
With five minutes left, a scuffle broke out between Arif Aiman and Tommy Mawas. Both were shown yellow cards. Many, including myself, believed Arif Aiman deserved a straight red.
Shortly after, JDT was awarded a penalty. Bergson stepped up to complete his hattrick. Perak lost 5-0. Public backlash followed, prompting the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) to investigate. It concluded that Razlan’s decisions were flawed and issued an apology to Perak. Perak accepted it — not that they had much choice.
Razlan was removed from officiating duties, both in amateur and top-level matches — though only for a while.
There’s something about Razlan and JDT. A local news portal (Majoriti) claimed that prior to that Perak game, Razlan had awarded seven penalties to JDT in five matches he officiated. That kind of statistic naturally fuels suspicion — which is why Sri Pahang’s camp was uneasy.
Appointing an official with no prior suspension for poor refereeing is not just about optics — it’s fundamental. Ahead of the 2024/25 Malaysia Cup final, much had already been said about waning interest in our domestic competitions. Some blame the lack of competitiveness. Around 50,000 fans attended last week’s final — far fewer than the 80,000 who used to pack the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil.
In a previous article, I argued that JDT’s dominance is not to blame. We’ve seen similar trends in leagues like the Bundesliga and Serie A — yet fan attendance remains strong.
The issue may instead lie with trust — or rather, the lack of it. Trust in league management. Trust in refereeing.
When referees with a history of high-profile blunders are appointed to crucial matches, confidence in the integrity of the competition takes a hit. Controversial decisions — especially from a ref with past errors — invite criticism and dent the league’s reputation.
If Malaysian football is serious about regaining fan trust, it must prioritise reliable, consistent officiating.
Because fans can accept losing. What they can’t accept is winning — or losing — under a cloud of doubt. It’s hard to celebrate a cup when greasy fingerprints are all over it.
The views expressed here are the personal opinion of the writer and do not necessarily represent that of Twentytwo13.
