Amid the uncertainty surrounding the AFC's decision on the Bahrain vs. Indonesia match, FIFA has taken decisive action. They have confirmed that the match between the Indonesian national team and Bahrain in the Asian qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup, scheduled for Tuesday, March 25, 2025, will still be played in Indonesia. This was announced by Indonesia's Minister of Youth and Sports, Dito Ariotedjo.
Read also: AFC Considers Bahrain's Neutral Venue Request, Takes Safety Concerns ‘Seriously’
He stated that the Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) has requested that the match between Indonesia and Bahrain in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers for the Asian Zone remain in Indonesia.
Dito Ariotedjo responded to Bahrain's concerns about player safety following threats on social media by assuring them of full protection. He stressed that the Bahrain national team will be fully protected during their stay in Indonesia. Dito, together with the Indonesian Football Association (PSSI), is committed to ensuring the safety of all visiting teams.
"As the Minister of Youth and Sports, I have issued an official statement guaranteeing the safety of the Bahrain team while they play in Indonesia. God willing, there will be no threats and their safety will be fully protected," said Dito Ariotedjo.
Dito also mentioned that the PSSI is currently in discussions with the Bahrain Football Association (BFA) regarding the match scheduled for March 25, 2025. He reassured Bahrain that the situation in Indonesia is safe and there is no cause for concern.
Refusal to Play in Indonesia = Walkover
Dito stated that there is no valid reason for the Bahrain national team to refuse to play in Indonesia, especially since FIFA has ruled that the match must take place in Indonesia. If Bahrain does not play in Indonesia, the victory will be awarded to Indonesia by walkover (WO).
Reason for Bahrain's Refusal to Play in Indonesia
Bahrain has requested that the match against Indonesia in March 2025 be moved to a neutral venue instead of being played at the Gelora Bung Karno Stadium. The request was made due to concerns about the safety of Bahrain's players while playing in Indonesia.
Read also: FIFA Qualifier Showdown: Bahrain Seeks Match Relocation from Jakarta
Bahrain's refusal to play in Indonesia stems from the behavior of Indonesian supporters on social media. The situation began when Garuda supporters were disappointed by the 2-2 draw in the previous match, in which they felt they had been unfairly treated by refereeing decisions.
In that match, Indonesia led 2-1 until the final seconds, but Bahrain managed to equalize in the 90+9th minute, despite the referee only adding six minutes of extra time.
The disappointment sparked anger among Indonesian netizens, who took to social media to lash out at referee Ahmed Al Kaf and Bahrain. In an official statement, Bahrain revealed that they had received death threats from several Indonesian football fans.
