Southeast Asian fans react as Indonesia’s request is rejected by FIFA

FIFA and AFC have formally dismissed the Indonesian Football Association's (PSSI) appeal to replace the referee for the Saudi Arabia versus Indonesia game in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, igniting fierce reactions from Southeast Asian fans.

According to the latest confirmation, referee Ahmad Al-Ali and the entire Kuwait officiating team will continue to oversee the Saudi Arabia vs Indonesia match on October 8 in Jeddah. This decision remains unchanged despite multiple appeals from PSSI due to concerns over “lack of neutrality,” as Al-Ali hails from West Asia, the same region as Saudi Arabia. Notably, this referee previously officiated Indonesia’s 0-4 loss to Vietnam in the 2022 World Cup qualifiers, heightening fans’ worries.

Previously, PSSI stated they “do not doubt Mr. Al-Ali personally,” but requested AFC to reconsider to ensure absolute fairness in this crucial match. Indonesia’s team manager, Mr. Sumardji, shared: “So far, we have not received any response from AFC. We only want a neutral referee, possibly from Europe or another truly impartial region. But in reality, they remain silent.” Chairman Erick Thohir also personally signed the letter to AFC, affirming that PSSI will “continue to fight for transparency and fairness” while respecting the final decisions of the regional federation.

On social media, Southeast Asian fans unitedly voiced their support for Indonesia. One predicted difficulties ahead:“There’s a sense that trouble will surround Indo in the upcoming match.”. Some mocked: “One red card for Indonesia and one penalty for Saudi!”, or "the winner has already been decided." Meanwhile, many others offered encouragement: “Keep fighting, bring glory to Southeast Asia.” or “This time I stand with Indo, go defeat them, brother.”

Especially, many Vietnamese fans also sent their best wishes for Indonesia’s victory in these important matches. One said:“From Vietnam, I support the Indonesian team to win, overcome difficulties, and surpass themselves towards success.” Another expressed more emotion:“The greater the challenge, the brighter the glory!”

In contrast to Indonesia and Southeast Asia’s reaction, Saudi media expressed satisfaction with AFC’s decision to keep the Kuwaiti referee. Asharq Al Awsat wrote: “AFC’s refusal to change the referee upset Indonesia, but the chance to overturn the decision was almost zero. AFC seems to have full confidence in Mr. Ahmed Al-Ali’s abilities.”. Meanwhile, Indonesian expert Bung Ropan argued that these concerns are justified: “Our team has suffered when Middle Eastern referees officiated. PSSI has the right to request a referee from Japan, Korea, or Europe to ensure impartiality.”

Despite the controversy, Indonesia remains fully focused on their first two matches in Group B of the fourth round of 2026 World Cup qualifiers. With strong fighting spirit and a squad featuring many naturalized players from Europe, coach Patrick Kluivert’s team believes they can surprise Saudi Arabia and Iraq. Their 2-0 win over Saudi Arabia in the previous qualifiers clearly demonstrates their potential. Given Asia has 8.5 World Cup slots, Indonesia’s dream to reach the 2026 tournament in the USA, Mexico, and Canada remains alive.

Under intense pressure and regional expectations, can Indonesia overcome the controversy and continue their historic journey in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers?