Shin Tae-Yong Sindir AFC In The Aftermath Of Referee Controversial Leadership In Bahrain Vs Indonesia Match

Shin Tae-yong was disappointed with referee Ahmed Al Kaf's leadership (VOI/Ferry Tri Adi Sasono).

JAKARTA - The coach of the Indonesian national team, Shin Tae-yong, immediately reacted strongly after the match against Bahrain in the Third Round of the 2026 World Cup Qualification. Triggered by the referee's controversy, Shin Tae-yong also satirized the Asian Football Confederation (AFC).

In the match which was held on Thursday, October 10, 2024, WIB night, the Indonesian national team was controversially held to a 2-2 draw by Bahrain.

This result is clearly unacceptable because the performance of the referee from Oman, Ahmed Al Kaf, who often harms Indonesia.

In fact, Bahrain's equalizer goal scored by Mohamed Marhoon occurred when the second half injury time was nine minutes. In fact, referee Al Kaf only gave the referee an additional six minutes.

Shin Tae-yong said the AFC had to improve the referee's performance in Asia. He emphatically said that if the AFC did not improve the referee's abilities, Asian football would not develop.

"Both Bahrain and Indonesia teams did their best until the referee blew the whistle at the last minute," Shin Tae-yong said in a press conference after the match, quoted on Friday, October 11, 2024.

"However, I still have to mention about things you know, some embarrassing things. In this case, the referee's decision, if the AFC wants to develop, the referee's decision must also be corrected," he said.

In that match, the Indonesian national team almost made a slick comeback. Despite being left behind through Marhoon's goal in the 15th minute, Indonesia managed to reverse the position 2-1 through goals from Ragnar Oratmangoen (45+3) and Rafael Struick (74).

However, Marhoon's late goal when injury time lasted nine minutes to finish the Indonesian national team's victory. The goal was then protested by the Indonesian national team because the referee initially only gave an extension of six minutes.