Dato Abdul Halim Sulaiman, Vice President of the Malaysian Sepak Takraw Federation (PSM), criticized Thailand after they refused to continue competing in the 2026 World Championship.
On 28 May 2026, drama unfolded during the Sepak Takraw World Championship final in Malaysia between Thailand and Malaysia, when the score was tied at 1-1.
During the third set, with Thailand leading 14-13, Singaporean referee Muhammad Radi awarded a point to Malaysia after ruling that Thailand had stepped on the line when striking the ball, tying the score at 14-14.
Dato Abdul Halim Sulaiman issued an official statement calling on all parties to respect the rules and ethics of the sport after one team refused to continue playing due to dissatisfaction with the referees' decisions during the World Championship.
In the statement, Dato Abdul Halim said that any team refusing to continue competition due to dissatisfaction with referees' decisions clearly violates the principles and regulations of the sport. He stressed, "Wrong is wrong; we should not deflect or shift responsibility elsewhere."
The statement also addressed the incident where an individual entered the competition area or "field of play" without proper authorization, which is a violation of clearly defined rules and standard operating procedures (SOP).
Dato Abdul Halim emphasized that this rule applies equally to everyone, whether president, secretary, or any official position—no one is above the rules.
The PSM Vice President warned that this event is the World Cup level of Sepak Takraw, an esteemed international stage reflecting the sport's image and credibility globally, and cannot be compared to village or school level competitions.
What Dato Abdul Halim found most serious was the attempt to persuade or induce players to refuse to continue competing, which undermines the spirit of sportsmanship, discipline, and professionalism long upheld by the sport.
The statement also called for appropriate disciplinary action against those involved to protect the image, credibility, and integrity of Sepak Takraw internationally.
Additionally, Dato Abdul Halim reiterated the universal principle of professional sports that the referee's decision is final; even if disagreed with, all parties must respect the authority and rulings of officials according to the game’s rules.
Dato Abdul Halim concluded the statement by emphasizing that Sepak Takraw can grow globally only if all stakeholders maintain strict discipline, professionalism, and respect for the rules.