PETALING JAYA – The Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) will call up controversial referee Zulkarnain Zakaria, who was handed a season-long suspension recently, to assist with further investigations into his performance in an effort to maintain the quality of local match officials.
FAM president Datuk Hamidin Mohd Amin said they are ready to conduct a comprehensive investigation by taking into account several aspects, including outside interference.
“We must look at all aspects before we take further action, but we have taken the first step by suspending him (Zulkarnain).
“The FAM Referee Performance Evaluation Committee is looking into it and will call him up.
“We cannot reach that stage (outsiders fixing matches)...let them (the committee) carry out a full investigation first,” he told a media conference after chairing the Seventh Meeting of the FAM Executive Committee 2021-2025 at Wisma FAM in Kelana Jaya here today.
On Sunday, Zulkarnain was suspended with immediate effect from refereeing any 2023 Malaysia League matches following several incidents involving his decisions in the Super League match between Sabah and Penang at the Likas Stadium in Kota Kinabalu on Friday.
Meanwhile, Hamidin, who is also a FIFA council member for the 2023-2027 term, said FAM would always strive to improve the quality of referees.
However, according to him, it is almost impossible to get a perfect referee who is immune to making mistakes on the field.
“Referees have weaknesses…(within) 90 minutes, he may make an incorrect decision at the 87th minute.
“This happens not just in Malaysia but all over the world. FAM and the committee are always monitoring, but there is no way to get a referee who is 100% perfect, not even at the World Cup,” he said.
Hamidin also said that FAM will send several referees, including Muhammad Nazmi Nasaruddin, to Thailand to obtain a Video Assistant Referee licence as an initial effort in the mission to see local referees on duty at the 2026 World Cup. – Bernama, March 21, 2023
