Malaysia Demands Penalty for Thailand After World Cup Walk-off

The Sepaktakraw Association of Malaysia (PSM) is demanding strong action from the International Sepaktakraw Federation (ISTAF) against Thailand. This demand stems from the Thai team's decision to walk off the court during the men's team regu final of the 2026 Sepak Takraw World Cup.

PSM President Datuk Mohd. Sumali Reduan stated that Thailand's refusal to continue the match warrants punishment for tarnishing the spirit of sportsmanship. He emphasized that referee decisions must be respected, and any objections should be lodged through official channels rather than by withdrawing from a competition.

"In my view, in any major tournament, not continuing the game is something that should be acted upon. Whether who should be penalized, we leave it to ISTAF," Reduan said. "The referee's decision is final. If you are not satisfied, there is a protest procedure. But to stop playing, that is not a proper action in a world-class tournament."

PSM has submitted a formal complaint to ISTAF, requesting a thorough investigation before any sanctions are imposed on Thailand. Reduan dismissed claims that the referee's decisions favored Malaysia, calling such accusations baseless and lacking concrete evidence. He argued that if the referee had been biased, the match would not have reached its current stage.

Malaysian team manager Datuk Abu Jimi Samat confirmed that ISTAF is reviewing PSM's official report to decide on the form of punishment. Disciplinary action is anticipated, as Thailand is accused of violating competition rules by refusing to play. The severity of the penalty will depend on the investigation's outcome and could range from player suspensions to more significant sanctions against the association if found guilty. The incident has garnered international attention within the sepak takraw community, with ISTAF expected to announce its official decision post-investigation.

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In my view, in any major tournament, not continuing the game is something that should be acted upon. Whether who should be penalized, we leave it to ISTAF. The referee's decision is final. If you are not satisfied, there is a protest procedure. But to stop playing, that is not a proper action in a world-class tournament.