Referee Ahmed Al Kaf: The Reason the Indonesian National Team Was Penalized Hundreds of Millions, Turns Out He Did Not Receive Punishment from FIFA

Kapanlagi.com - Ahmed Al Kaf, the referee from Oman who drew public attention due to his controversial decisions in the Bahrain vs Indonesia match, has now been entrusted again to officiate a match. The decision by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) to continue appointing Al Kaf despite numerous protests from various parties, especially Indonesia, has triggered mixed reactions among fans and the media.

This 41-year-old referee will officiate an important match between the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Kyrgyzstan in the 2026 World Cup Qualifiers, scheduled to take place on Thursday, November 14, 2024.

Al Kaf's appointment without sanctions clearly shows the AFC's firm stance in facing various protests, particularly those coming from Indonesia. His controversial decision to extend the playing time beyond the regulations was deemed detrimental to the Indonesian National Team, which ultimately failed to secure a victory.

Now, Al Kaf is once again the center of attention, especially among the Indonesian public who are questioning fairness in the Asian football scene. On the other hand, the protests submitted by PSSI to the AFC and FIFA regarding the incident in the Bahrain match have yet to yield satisfactory results. The AFC has handed responsibility to FIFA, and vice versa, leaving PSSI in uncertainty.

Amid this tense situation, Al Kaf appears unfazed. He even shared a message on his personal Instagram account that sparked new speculation among football fans. Will this mark a new chapter in his career, or will it further complicate the situation?

1. Ahmed Al Kaf Gets New Assignment Amid Controversy

Ahmed Al Kaf is back in the spotlight after being appointed by the AFC to lead the exciting match between the UAE and Kyrgyzstan on Thursday, November 14, 2024. This appointment has drawn public attention, especially after the controversial incident involving Al Kaf in the previous match that disadvantaged the Indonesian National Team.

As reported by Arab media @football_li5, despite the many criticisms of his decisions, the AFC seems to continue to trust Al Kaf with the leadership of the match.

In the Bahrain vs Indonesia match, he was deemed not to have signaled the end at the right time in the 90+6 minute, which led to additional time until 90+9 and gave Bahrain the opportunity to equalize to 2-2.

2. Referee Controversy: A Loss for the Indonesian National Team

The shocking decision by referee Al Kaf not to end the match on time had a significant impact on the standings of Group C in the 2026 World Cup Qualifiers.

If the final whistle had been blown at the 90+6 minute mark, Indonesia would have secured a 2-1 victory over Bahrain and soared to third place in the group. However, the addition of three minutes of stoppage time dashed those hopes.

The PSSI did not remain silent, immediately lodging a protest with the AFC and FIFA. Unfortunately, their efforts ended in confusion, with the AFC asking PSSI to contact FIFA, while FIFA instructed PSSI to return to the AFC.

To this day, the protest has yet to yield results, leaving a sense of curiosity and disappointment in the hearts of fans.

3. Sanctions Against Officials of the Indonesian National Team

PSSI is now facing not only defeat on the field but also sanctions haunting several officials of the Indonesian National Team. Manager Sumardji must bear a ban from accompanying the team for one match, along with a fine of 5,000 CHF or around Rp89 million.

Meanwhile, team analyst Kim Jong-jin is also forced to dig into his pockets with the same fine and a ban from accompanying the team for the next four matches.

This sanction was imposed as a consequence of PSSI's strong protest against the referee after the controversial decision by Al Kaf, where the actions of officials who criticized directly were deemed to violate regulations, leading the AFC to impose a fairly heavy punishment.

4. Implicit Message from Ahmed Al Kaf

In the midst of the swirling controversy, Ahmed Al Kaf posted a stirring short message on his Instagram account on November 12, 2024.

"Be strong, be independent, and self-reliant," he wrote on the @ahmedalkaf account, which immediately sparked various speculations among football fans.

Although Al Kaf did not directly comment on the incident in the Bahrain vs Indonesia match, many interpreted the message as an implicit response to the criticism he received.

The public also joined the conversation, speculating that the statement reflected the pressure he faced due to the disappointment of many parties regarding his performance.

5. Hopes and Concerns for Upcoming Matches

Ahmed Al Kaf's return as a referee in the crucial match between the UAE and Kyrgyzstan has triggered a wave of concerns, especially among Indonesian football fans who question his integrity.

This match, which is part of the 2026 World Cup Qualifiers, is crucial for the fate of both teams in Group C, making the hope for Al Kaf's professional and neutral demeanor increasingly pressing.

As one of the senior referees in the AFC, many football observers hope he can regain his reputation in this match.

"We want fair leadership and the best for this match," said an Asian football observer who chose to remain anonymous.

(kpl/rmt)