Men In Black

Meanwhile, AFC has released the list of referees and assistant referees (or linesmen, to people from my generation, ehem). Sixteen referees will officiate in the competition with the help of twenty-four assistant referees. Out of these, one referee and two assistant referees are from CAF (Confederation Africaine De Football).

Looking at the list of referees, there is NONE from Malaysia. There's one from Singapore (Shamsul Maidin - who also officiated in Germany 2006) and one from Thailand. Then again, there's none from Indonesia as well (or Wasit, as they call it there).

Aiyo. AFC. You are trying to say my country's refs not good enough ah? You want to stay long at Bukit Jalil or not? There are at least SIX referees from the FIFA list from Malaysia, not even one managed to get in the list? According to AFC Director of Referees Yoshimi Ogawa, "All the referees who have been selected have proved their refereeing skills in the past and under intense pressure. Moreover, they need to clear a fitness test for final confirmation to officiate in the competition." We surely hope our referees were just too busy for it.

On a positive note, Malaysian FIFA-recognised Assistant Referee, Mohd Sabri Mat Daud is selected as part of the Assistant Referee list. He has been involved in international matches since 2006. One of his most recent AFC outing was in Sydney in the AFC Champions League match between Sydney FC and Urawa Reds last March.