Indonesia head coach Shin Tae-yong has expressed his frustration over Omani referee Ahmed Al-Kaaf’s decision to extend injury time beyond the allotted six minutes, which ultimately allowed Bahrain to snatch a dramatic 2-2 draw in their FIFA World Cup 2026 Asian Qualifiers Round 3 Group C clash on October 10, 2024.
The match saw Bahrain take an early lead through a spectacular free-kick from Mohamed Marhoon, only for Indonesia to equalize before halftime through Ragnar Oratmangoen’s well-taken goal. In the second half, Indonesia’s rising star striker Rafael Struick put the Garuda ahead 2-1 with a brilliant strike, leaving them just minutes away from a vital victory.
With the fourth official signaling six minutes of injury time, Bahrain mounted a last-ditch offensive in search of an equalizer. However, as the clock ticked past the 96th minute, referee Ahmed Al-Kaaf allowed play to continue, and in the 99th minute, Marhoon scored his second goal of the night from close range to level the match at 2-2.
The decision to extend the injury time sparked outrage among the Indonesian players and coaching staff, with protests erupting on the field after the final whistle. Tensions boiled over when one of Shin Tae-yong’s staff members was sent off for confronting the referee.
In his post-match interview, Shin Tae-yong did not hold back in criticizing the referee’s handling of the game.
“Both teams fought hard until the final whistle, but I have to question the referee’s decision. The injury time was set at six minutes, but the game continued for more than nine minutes. I believe the referee’s decision was biased, and this influenced the outcome,” said Shin.
He continued, “If the AFC (Asian Football Confederation) wants to improve the quality of football in Asia, referee decisions must improve. Everyone can see why our players and staff are upset with these decisions.”
Despite the draw, Indonesia remains winless in the campaign but has managed to secure three points from three consecutive draws. The team now faces a crucial challenge in their next qualifier, traveling to Qingdao to take on China PR on Tuesday, October 15, 2024.
Credit Photo : AFC
