PSSI Asks Referees From The Neutral Zone In The 2026 World Cup Qualification

The Indonesian national team will play two home games for the 2026 World Cup Qualification (doc. PSSI).

PSSI through the Secretary General, Yunus Nusi, said that the federation sent a request to AFC regarding the assignment of referees during the 2026 World Cup Qualification continued match. He asked the referee on duty to come from the neutral zone.

This was revealed following the results of a controversial match between Bahrain vs Indonesia led by referee from Oman, Ahmed Al Kaf.

Yunus believes that the leader of the match comes from the same zone as Bahrain, so it opens up opportunities for one-sided weight.

"PSSI wants the referee in charge of leading the match properly according to Law of the Game."

"When the Indonesian national team lost to China, netizens and the Indonesian people received well and even praised the referee's leadership. We conveyed this to the AFC," Yunus said in an official PSSI statement quoted Friday, November 1, 2024.

Meanwhile, Yunus also ensured that his party would continue to carry out the role of host to the fullest when the Indonesian national team would host Bahrain in March 2025.

This affirmation was conveyed after Bahrain refused to play in Indonesia because he accepted blasphemy and the threat of murder to their players on social media.

Yunus conveyed Indonesia's readiness to host a good host to all guests on the sidelines of the AFC agenda in Seoul, South Korea.

"The Secretary General of the AFC wants PSSI and supporters of the Indonesian national team during the home match at the Gelora Bung Karno Main Stadium to be good hosts and avoid things that might harm the Indonesian national team and PSSI as the host," said Yunus Nusi.

"For this reason, PSSI will serve and accept every visitors as well as possible who play in Indonesia."

"PSSI and Indonesia must prove that what Bahrain is worried about will not happen in Indonesia," he said again.

On that occasion, Yunus conveyed directly to AFC and FIFA officials regarding the blasphemy of Indonesian netizens against the Bahrain team.

He admitted that the attacks on Indonesian netizens were considered to have crossed the line. Furthermore, Yunus asked AFC and FIFA to understand the actions of Indonesian netizens.

According to him, the reactive nature of supporters cannot be separated from the love for the Indonesian national team.

"PSSI also hopes that AFC and FIFA will understand the responses from football communities and Indonesian netizens who are sometimes excessive."

"We convey that this is part of the proof of how much Indonesian people love the Indonesian national team," he said.