Kuala lumpur: Twelve players and three officials from the Thai delegation have been referred to the International Sepaktakraw Federation (ISTAF) disciplinary committee following the controversy during the team regu final of the 2026 Sepak Takraw World Cup last month. According to BERNAMA News Agency, ISTAF Secretary-General Datuk Abdul Halim Kader announced that the decision was made unanimously by the governing body's Executive Committee after a special meeting on May 30. The meeting was convened to review the incident that occurred during the third regu match at the Titiwangsa Stadium. The controversy arose during the May 23 final when Thailand staged a walkout to protest the referee's decision. As a result, Malaysia was declared the winners with a 2-1 scoreline. Abdul Halim stated that the referral aims to facilitate a thorough, independent, and fair investigation into the circumstances leading up to the Thai team's actions during the final. "This referral encompasses individuals who may have been direc tly or indirectly involved, contributed to, participated in, supported, influenced, facilitated, encouraged, or in any way played a role in the events and decisions that resulted in the abandonment of the match," Abdul Halim explained. He emphasized that the referral does not imply that any athlete or official has committed misconduct or violated regulations. The ISTAF Disciplinary Committee will review all evidence, arguments, and representations before determining if there has been any breach of the constitution, rules, laws, or code of ethics of the heritage sport's governing body. Abdul Halim assured that every individual involved will have the opportunity to present explanations and supporting evidence, adhering to the principles of natural justice and procedural fairness. He also urged all parties to refrain from speculation during the disciplinary process, highlighting ISTAF's commitment to governing sepak takraw with integrity, fairness, and accountability.