VAR making football referees lazy, warns ex-FIFA official Subkhiddin | Timesport On The Beat

The New World Cup: Bigger, Tougher and Changing Football Forever | Timesport On The Beat

Football Coaches Association of Malaysia (FCAM) former vice-president Datuk Richard Scully breaks down how the expanded 48-team 2026 World Cup could reshape global football. From fixture congestion and travel headaches to the rise of smaller nations like Jordan and Uzbekistan, he explains why success is now built on structure rather than size, and what Malaysia can learn from football's changing landscape.

VAR making football referees lazy, warns ex-FIFA official Subkhiddin | Timesport On The Beat

In this episode of Timesport: On the Beat, former FIFA World Cup referee Subkhiddin Salleh warns that modern officiating technology, including the Video Assistant Referee (VAR), is making on-pitch officials lazy. Subkhiddin says the technology reduces the alertness of referees during matches, as they rely too much on VAR to correct their mistakes instead of making the right call immediately. The veteran official also opens up about the dark personal toll of his career, revealing how cyberbullies targeted his daughter online. He recounts a humiliating domestic match where he was completely deceived by a player's "flying" simulation, which resulted in a wrongly awarded penalty. Subkhiddin closes with a direct warning to Malaysian football administrators, urging them to respect the sport. He cautions that those who cheat today will not be safe tomorrow.

Critic slams cosmetic makeup papering over cracks in Malaysian football | Timesport On The Beat

In this episode of Timesport: On the Beat, critic Pekan Ramli says the Malaysian league is using cosmetic "makeup" to hide unpaid wages, document forgery scandals, and plummeting attendance. Pekan says gag orders on clubs and systemic failures have turned an 11-year professionalisation effort into a failing, abandoned project.

Malaysia’s fate is tied to the Zii Jia factor | Timesport On The Beat

Former Thomas Cup winner Kwan Yoke Meng said Malaysia’s key to winning the prestigious men’s team tournament lies in Lee Zii Jia. He felt that the independent shuttler is arguably the strongest third singles in the competition starting on Friday in Horsens, Denmark, therefore making him a powerful weapon for Malaysia. Yoke Meng, who had trained Zii Jia during his junior days, even went as far as to say that the world has yet to witness the former All England champion at his best.

Critic: Rivals now see Harimau Malaya in a different light | Timesport On The Beat

The FA of Malaysia will not want to hear this. Football critic Zakaria Rahim says the national men’s team are no longer respected by their rivals in Southeast Asia. He claims that from the way “opponents talk about us”, Malaysia have become easy target. Zakaria also says Malaysia’s national team project is quietly losing its connection with local players.