KUALA LUMPUR – “Whoever is at fault must be held accountable.”
That was the firm stance taken by International Sepaktakraw Federation (ISTAF) secretary-general Datuk Abdul Halim Kader following a controversial incident in which Thailand’s team walked off the court during their team regu final against Malaysia at the Sepak Takraw World Cup last week.
Abdul Halim said ISTAF had immediately launched a thorough investigation after the incident and stressed that any party found responsible must answer for their actions unless clear evidence proved otherwise.
“Whoever is wrong remains wrong unless they can provide concrete evidence to show that they are not at fault. That is my position as ISTAF secretary-general and co-chairman of the Sepak Takraw World Cup held in Kuala Lumpur,” he told Scoop when contacted.
He revealed that ISTAF officials spent more than four hours investigating the matter after the final could not be completed at around midnight following Thailand’s decision to leave the court.
“We conducted a detailed review involving all relevant parties because this is not a small issue. The integrity of the tournament and the image of the sport are at stake. We wanted to ensure that every decision made was based on proper procedures, evidence and fairness,” he said.
Abdul Halim also confirmed that he would travel to Bangkok tomorrow for discussions with the Takraw Association of Thailand (TAT).
He said the meeting would focus on the status of the upcoming King’s Cup Sepak Takraw Championship, which is scheduled to take place in Bangkok from August 3 to 11.
“This visit is specifically to discuss whether Thailand intend to proceed with or cancel the tournament. It is essentially a coordination meeting between ISTAF and the leadership of TAT Thailand,” he said.
At the same time, Abdul Halim cautioned Thai officials against making further statements that could worsen tensions surrounding the controversy.
“I hope all parties will remain calm and avoid issuing unnecessary remarks that could further inflame the situation. Matters like this should be resolved through proper discussions and official channels, not through emotional reactions or public accusations,” he added.
The controversy erupted during the World Cup final after Thailand allegedly walked off the court following dissatisfaction over officiating decisions, resulting in the match being left unfinished and sparking widespread debate within the sepak takraw community.
Following the incident, officials awarded the result to Malaysia, meaning Malaysia were declared winners of the match and the title. – May 28, 2026