Malaysia was awarded victory in the Sepak Takraw World Cup final.

The team regu final of Sepak Takraw between Malaysia and Thailand concluded with massive disputes.

The 2026 Sepak Takraw World Cup held in Malaysia ended with many controversies surrounding the refereeing, especially in matches involving the host team. Thai media believe that their team suffered unfavorable decisions, culminating in the men's team Regu final against Malaysia.

According to the specialized site Sanam Takraw, the controversial turning point occurred in the third set when the two teams were locked in a close score. The referee determined that a Thai player committed a foul by stepping on the center line. However, the Thai side reacted fiercely and demanded a video review. Nevertheless, the officiating team stated that the current rules do not allow a review of this play.

After several minutes of heated debate, the Thai players left the court to protest the decision. When the team intended to return to play, the referee informed them that they had exceeded the allowed time. In the end, Thailand was ruled to have lost because they did not resume the match on time, meaning Malaysia was awarded the victory.

Thai media argue that this was not the only time their team suffered unfair treatment. Earlier, they also reacted to a disputed point deduction. The consecutive decisions by the officiating crew caused the Thai athletes to lose their composure, creating a tense atmosphere in the arena.

Despite their frustration, the Thai team returned to the court for the medal ceremony after the match concluded. While receiving their awards, many players displayed sarcastic attitudes toward the referees. One athlete even knelt down to the officiating team in reaction to what he believed were unfair decisions.

Sepak Takraw has long been considered a strength sport of Thailand for many years. However, at this year's tournament, they lost quite a few gold medals to hosts Malaysia. This further made the controversies regarding refereeing a hot topic on Thai media and social networks after the World Cup concluded.