From heartbreak to World Cup: Subkhiddin recalls long road to South Africa 2010
RETIRED Malaysian Fifa referee Subkhiddin Salleh still remembers the moment he finally received the call to officiate at the 2010 Fifa World Cup in South Africa — not with tears or overwhelming emotion, but with a deep sense of gratitude.
Subkhiddin said his journey to football’s biggest stage was anything but straightforward, revealing that he had previously missed out on selection for the 2006 World Cup in Germany despite being among FIFA’s candidates.
“I was already in the candidate programme for Germany years before 2006. But at the last minute, I was not selected. Everyone else departed, but I did not,” he told theSun when contacted.
The disappointment, however, did not stop him from continuing to push forward in international refereeing.
Before eventually making the cut for South Africa 2010, Subkhiddin had officiated in numerous FIFA tournaments, including the Olympics, Under-17 World Cup, Under-20 World Cup and Club World Cup.
“At first, every appointment felt exciting because it was something new. But after going through so many tournaments, it became part of the routine,” he said.
He admitted that he initially did not realise the series of FIFA tournaments he was assigned to were part of a long-term evaluation process leading towards World Cup selection.
“I just focused on doing my best in every competition. I never thought too far ahead,” he added.
When his name was finally announced for South Africa 2010, Subkhiddin said the reaction around him changed almost instantly.
“The media started calling. FAM became busy. Even the Education Ministry wanted to hold appreciation ceremonies,” he recalled.
That was when the magnitude of being selected for a World Cup truly hit him.
“Before that, I had already gone to many tournaments and nobody really paid attention. But once it was the World Cup, suddenly everyone wanted to meet me,” he said.
Despite the recognition, Subkhiddin said he never allowed himself to become overly emotional or complacent.
“For me, it was more about responsibility. Once you arrive at the World Cup, you start thinking about how far you can go in the tournament and how well you can represent your country.”
However, the tournament itself came with unexpected disappointment.
Subkhiddin revealed that due to several controversies surrounding officiating appointments involving European referees during the competition, he and several referees from other confederations were ultimately not selected as main referees for matches.
Instead, he served as fourth official for eight matches throughout the tournament.
Among the most memorable was the opening match between hosts South Africa and Mexico.
“That was special because world leaders and important figures were there. The atmosphere was incredible.”
Subkhiddin also recalled being involved in several tense moments during matches, including assisting referees in contentious decisions from the sidelines.
One incident he vividly remembers involved Brazilian superstar Kaka receiving a yellow card during a match officiated by a French referee, which ultimately leading to his dismissal.
“I told him, ‘No, no, no. No card.’ But he still gave the yellow card,” Subkhiddin said with a laugh.
Looking back, Subkhiddin said he remains grateful for the opportunity to represent Malaysia on football’s biggest stage after nearly a decade of persistence.
“It took me almost eight to 10 years to finally reach the World Cup. So for me, it was not about celebrating wildly. It was simply about being thankful.”
