The Indonesian Football Association (PSSI) plans to file an official protest with the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) regarding the officiating of referee Ahmed Al Kaf during the 2026 World Cup Qualifiers match between Bahrain and Indonesia.
The match, held at Bahrain National Stadium on Thursday (10/6), ended in a 2-2 draw. Bahrain’s equalizing goal was scored by Mohamed Marhoon in the 99th minute, despite the referee initially signaling only six minutes of added time.
According to a statement on PSSI's official website, PSSI Executive Committee member Arya Sinulingga expressed disappointment with the officiating, suggesting that the referee intentionally extended the match duration to allow Bahrain to score the equalizer.
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During the match, Indonesia led with two goals from Ragnar Oratmangoen (45+3') and Rafael Struick (74'). However, the draw left Indonesia in fifth place in Group C’s standings, with a total of three points.
Meanwhile, head coach Shin Tae-yong praised his team’s hard-fought efforts but also criticized the referee’s decision to extend the game beyond the allotted six minutes of injury time, which led to Bahrain’s last-minute goal.
Shin expressed his frustration with several refereeing decisions, which he believed were biased and influenced the match's final outcome. He understood why his players protested after the game, particularly concerning the excessive injury time. The South Korean coach also called for improvements in refereeing standards to ensure the continued development of football in Asia.
Following the match, the Garuda squad immediately flew to Qingdao to face China in their next away fixture on Tuesday, October 15, 2024.
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Who is Ahmed Al Kaf?
According to goal.com, Ahmed Abu Bakar Said Al Kaf, commonly known as Ahmed Al Kaf, is an Omani referee born on March 6, 1983. He began his refereeing career in 2008 and earned his FIFA license in 2010, allowing him to officiate international matches.
Ahmed is known for his tendency to issue cards frequently to players he deems guilty of violations on the field. He has officiated 115 matches, during which he has handed out a total of 346 yellow cards and 10 red cards, averaging five cards per game.
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Controversies
The Omani referee has garnered a reputation for being controversial, often issuing cards with ease. In the Indonesia vs. Bahrain match, Indonesia committed 27 fouls, despite minimal physical contact, while Bahrain was recorded with only 10 fouls, even though several incidents could have been considered violations.
Moreover, when Indonesia led Bahrain 2-1, six minutes of added time were given, meaning the match should have ended around the 96th minute. However, play continued until the 99th minute, allowing Bahrain to score the equalizer.
Ahmed Al Kaf has also been involved in other controversial decisions. During the 2020 AFC U-23 Championship, he awarded a highly disputed penalty to Saudi Arabia in their match against Thailand, resulting in the only goal of the match, which left Thailand as another victim of his questionable officiating decisions.
