The performance of the Japanese match officials appointed to oversee the FA Cup final encounter between Perak and Kedah on Saturday has been praised by the winning side's head coach and skipper.
Although the match was perhaps not a classic final match with the only goal coming in extra time, scored by substitute Fadzrul Danel Nizam, the quality of refereeing produced by referee Takuto Okabe and his assistants Akane Yagi and Osamu Nomura earned the attention of those watching at the Bukit Jalil National Stadium and home.
The foreign officials were appointed by competitions organiser Malaysian Football League (MFL) following the horrendous quality of refereeing seen in the most recent Malaysian cup final match; the 2018 Malaysia Cup final match between Perak and Terengganu FC.