The Malaysian sepak takraw team has sent a formal complaint regarding the conduct of three Thai sepak takraw officials following a walkout protest that halted the continuation of the 2026 World Championship.
On 26 May 2026, a drama unfolded at the 2026 Sepak Takraw World Championship in Malaysia during the final between Thailand and Malaysia. The incident occurred when the score was tied at one set each. In the third set, while Thailand was leading 14-13, Singaporean referee Muhammad Radi awarded a point to Malaysia after judging that a Thai player stepped on the line during a strike, resulting in a 14-14 tie.
From the Thai side, it was argued that the rule penalizing stepping on the line no longer applies, so they viewed the referee’s decision as unfair.
Recently, the Malaysian national team submitted a letter of complaint regarding the behavior of three Thai sepak takraw officials following the aforementioned controversy.
An official complaint letter concerning the conduct of Thai officials during the men's regu final match at the ISTAF Sepaktakraw World Cup Kuala Lumpur 2026.
24 May 2026.
To Dato Abdul Halim bin Kader, Secretary-General of the International Sepaktakraw Federation (ISTAF).
Dear Dato,
I, as Secretary-General of the Sepaktakraw Association of Malaysia (PSM), wish to express concern and formally lodge a complaint regarding the conduct and actions of several senior officials from the Sepaktakraw Association of Thailand during match 69, the men's regu final between Malaysia and Thailand at the ISTAF Sepaktakraw World Cup Kuala Lumpur 2026, held on 23 May 2026 at the Titiwangsa Stadium, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
During the chaotic incident triggered by the referee’s decision in the third regu, it was observed that three Thai officials who were not registered players or officially listed team members entered and gathered around the Thai team bench while the match was still ongoing.
The individuals involved were:
1. Mr. Thana Chaiprasit – President of the Sepaktakraw Association of Thailand and Vice President of the National Olympic Committee of Thailand.
2. Dr. Srihasak Arirachakaran – Secretary-General of the Sepaktakraw Association of Thailand.
3. Mr. Piroj Acharongroj – Thai team official and former national team manager.
As senior leaders in the Thai sepak takraw community and key representatives in the sports and Olympic movement, it is both disappointing and concerning that these officials did not help deescalate the situation or encourage the Thai athletes to return to the court and complete the match according to the rules and regulations.
On the contrary, their presence and ongoing interaction with the players during the stoppage appeared to exacerbate the confusion and uncertainty during the critical moments of the final.
As sports leaders, particularly at the international and Olympic levels, these individuals should exemplify leadership, calmness, professionalism, sportsmanship, and respect for the authority of referees and match officials. If dissatisfied with refereeing decisions, the proper channel under ISTAF regulations is to file an official protest, not to refuse to continue the match.
This incident occurred during one of the most important events under the ISTAF World Cup structure. The competition was broadcast live on television and international streaming platforms, reaching millions of viewers worldwide. For the first time, the ISTAF World Cup received major sponsorship and support from government agencies, ministries, private sectors, and business partners to elevate sepak takraw as a valuable international commercial sport.
Unfortunately, the behavior and actions during the final negatively affected the sport’s image and undermined the professionalism of the event broadcast to a global audience.
As the host country, Malaysia and the organizing committee invested significant resources in management, operational planning, government coordination, sponsorship procurement, live broadcasting, venue preparation, and international event administration to ensure the competition's success. An incident like a refusal to continue the final match could damage public confidence, sponsors' perspectives, broadcasters' trust, future commercial negotiations, and the overall international image of sepak takraw.
It is deeply disappointing that senior Thai officials present did not encourage the team to respect match officials, resume play, and finish the match with sportsmanship and fairness. Instead, the situation escalated during the stoppage and ultimately led to Thailand’s withdrawal from the match.
Given the seriousness of this matter, I request that the International Sepaktakraw Federation (ISTAF) formally review the conduct and roles of the involved officials and consider whether further investigation, clarification requests, or disciplinary actions under ISTAF’s disciplinary and governance framework are warranted.
Respectfully,
Dato' Haji Abidullah Haji Salleh.
Secretary-General.
Sepaktakraw Association of Malaysia (PSM).