PSSI Responds To AFC And FIFA's Rejection Regarding Kuwaiti Referees In The Indonesia Vs Saudi Arabia National Team Match

PSSI Secretary General Yunus Nusi revealed that PSSI accepted AFC and FIFA's decision regarding the assignment of referees in the 2026 World Cup Qualification (doc. PSSI).

PSSI through the Secretary-General (Sekjen), Yunus Nusi, responded to FIFA's reply rejecting a letter of protest regarding the Kuwaiti referee who will lead the match between the Indonesian national team and Saudi Arabia.

The two teams will meet in the Fourth Round of the 2026 World Cup Qualification, Thursday 9 October 202, early morning WIB.

As for the reply, the AFC said that the match officials on duty were the best. They also guarantee that the referees on duty will be professional and not tied to conflicts of interest.

"The regional affiliation of match officials does not cause a conflict of interest because they are all elite AFC referees who are fully trained and responsible for giving their best without fear or favoritism."

"Furthermore, the appointment of referees for (match) AQ26PO is carried out through a rigorous and well-established process, based on a comprehensive performance evaluation and subject to final ratification by FIFA," wrote the AFC.

Regarding the decisions of AFC and FIFA, PSSI openly accepts what has been determined. Yunus Nusi said, it is an authority that must still be accepted and trusted.

"PSSI accepted the decision because the decision was under the authority of the AFC. We entrust it like the reply of a letter from the AFC to us, to PSSI," Yunus said in a statement received Tuesday, October 7, 2025.

The ASEAN Football released that all referees on duty in the Indonesia vs Saudi Arabia national team match would come from Kuwait as a whole, with the main referee assigned to Ahmed Al-Ali.

The first assistant referees were Abdul Hadi Al-Anzi and Ahmed Abbas as assistant referees for the second. Ammar Ashkanani was appointed as the fourth referee or reserve referee, while Abdullah Jamali served as assistant referee (VAR) and Abdullah Al-Kandari as assistant referees for VAR.

Yunus hopes that the referee who leads will be able to uphold sportsmanship and fair play in the field so that the match will not be injured by anything.

"Of course we really hope that sportsmanship, fair play, in this match. We are looking forward to it and we are looking forward to it."

"We don't expect this match to be injured when there is partiality from the match equipment."

"Hopefully this match we will see with full neutrality. We also still believe, we are still sure because this is the match leading to the World Cup (2026)."

"We are very optimistic that the referee will lead fairly and neutrally," said Yunus Nusi.

The Indonesian national team will face Saudi Arabia on Thursday, October 9, 2025, at 00.15 WIB at the King Abdullah Sport City Stadium, Jeddah. In the same place, the Garuda Squad will face Iraq on Sunday, October 12, 2025, at 02.30 WIB.

Only group winners qualify automatically for the 2026 World Cup. The team that finishes in second place will advance to the next qualifying round, while those who occupy third place will immediately fall.