KUALA LUMPUR – Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) president Datuk Hamidin Mohd Amin is banking on referee Muhammad Nazmi Nasaruddin and assistant referees Mohamad Zairul Khalil Tan and Mohd Arif Shamil Abd Rasid to carry out their duties impeccably at the 2023 Asian Cup Finals in Doha, Qatar from January 12 to February 10.
Hamidin urged them to stay focused and prove that referees from Malaysia are just as capable of officiating matches to increase their chances of being shortlisted for 2026 World Cup duty in Canada, Mexico and the United States.
“Our fans wish to see the Harimau Malaya excel in the 2023 Asian Cup and they, together with us at FAM, also want Nazmi and his two assistants to make the grade and officiate at the 2026 World Cup.
“Make the 2023 Asian Cup the platform for all three of you to be among the 10 Asian referees to officiate at the 2026 World Cup, where you can make Malaysian refereeing history…you will stand a better chance of blowing the whistle at the World Cup now that there will be 48 teams competing for the first time,” he said.
He said this during a meeting with the three officials in Doha, with FAM sharing a video clip of that meeting with the media.
Malaysia, ending a 42-year wait to qualify on merit for the 2023 Asian Cup, will begin their Group E campaign against Jordan on January 15 before taking on Bahrain on January 20 and completing their group fixtures against two-time champions South Korea on January 25.
Only the top two teams from each group and the four best third-placed teams will advance to the last 16 in Doha.
This is Malaysia’s fourth appearance in the Asian Cup after qualifying on merit for three other editions – Iran in 1976, Kuwait in 1980, and as joint hosts with Singapore in 2007 – but they have never advanced to the round of 16.
Harimau Malaya, coached by South Korean Kim Pan-gon, will warm up for the Asian Cup with a friendly against Syria tomorrow. – January 7, 2024