Indonesia U-23 Vs Iraq U-23, Shin Tae-yong Hopes The Referee Will Lead Well

Shin Tae-yong hopes that the referee will lead well in the Indonesia U-23 vs Iraq U-23 (doc. PSSI) match.

JAKARTA - The U-23 Indonesian national team coach, Shin Tae-yong, expressed hope ahead of the duel against Iraq U-23 in the race for third place in the 2024 U-23 Asian Cup. He wants whoever is in charge to be able to lead the match fairly.

Indonesia U-23 and Iraq U-23 will compete for third place in the U-23 Asian Cup at Abdullah bin Khalifa Stadium, Qatar, on Thursday, May 2, 2024, at 22.30 WIB. This match is also crucial for both teams considering that the winner of the match will automatically lock the ticket to the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Given how important the match will be, Shin Tae-yong hopes that the match will run well, including the referee's decisions.

"Regarding the U-23 Iraq opponents, this is a third place match. All teams will certainly do their best. I hope this match can run well," said Shin Tae-yong, quoted on Thursday, May 2, 2024.

"I just want everyone to respect each other. Players and referees must respect each other. Referees must also respect the coach, and vice versa."

"If that happens, nothing bad will happen in a match," said Shin Tae-yong.

Shin Tae-yong's serious hope about the referee is not without reason. The South Korean coach expressed concern because he reflected on the previous match in the semifinals.

In the match against Uzbekistan U-23, Garuda Muda lost 0-2. In addition to the final score, the referee's leadership in the match was also in the spotlight.

Shin Tae-yong got a yellow card in that match because he was considered to have protested excessively. Captain Rizky Ridho was given a red card for a debated offense.

In addition, the referee on duty also thwarted the U-23 Indonesian national team's goal in the 60th minute. The referee's decision to cancel the violation against Witan was no less controversial.

Reflecting on these incidents, Shin hopes that the match against Iraq U-23 can run cleanly and fairly.

"In the semifinal match (against Uzbekistan U-23), I still think a lot. The players have played well, but there are some situations especially because of the referee's whistle. The fate of the match can change. So, it's also difficult for me and my team," said Shin Tae-yong.