‘Don’t fight it. We’ll think about it.
The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has stepped in to mediate between Bahrain and Indonesia over the hosting of the A-Match, citing player safety concerns.
“The AFC has taken note of the concerns raised by the Bahrain Football Association (BFA) regarding the safety and security of the national team ahead of the Indonesia-Bahrain match in Group C of the North and Central America World Cup Asia 2025, scheduled to be held in Indonesia on March 25, 2025,” the AFC said in a statement on Monday. ”While the AFC takes these concerns seriously and is committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of all players, 파워볼사이트 officials and fans, we are deeply concerned by all forms of online abuse and threats.
“We will have further discussions with FIFA, the BFA and the Indonesian Football Association (PSSI) on this matter and ensure that we create a safe environment for all stakeholders involved in the game,” the AFC vowed.
The dispute between the two countries was sparked during the third Group C match of the 2026 North and Central American World Cup Asia 2018 qualifier at the Bahrain National Stadium in Rifa, Bahrain, on Nov. 11. Shin Tae-yong’s Indonesia led 2-1 with six minutes of stoppage time remaining, but the referee did not blow the final whistle until nine minutes had elapsed and the game ended after Bahrain scored a dramatic equalizer.
After the match, Shin Tae-yong was furious about the unfair call, and Indonesian soccer fans were also outraged by what they perceived as favoritism, especially given that AFC President Sheikh Bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa is a Bahraini national.
The two federations have since come to blows ahead of the return match, which will be moved to Indonesia next March. The BFA sent a letter to the AFC requesting that the match be played at a venue other than Indonesia for the safety of the players, saying that “some Indonesian fans have been making death threats against Bahrain’s national team players and the BFA.”
The PSSI responded. “Indonesia is a friendly country that is visited by many foreign tourists. We can ensure that the match against Bahrain is held safely and peacefully. The BFA’s demand to change the venue is unreasonable.” The PSSI responded by sending a letter to the AFC demanding that the match be held.
In the end, the AFC took a quick stand and mediated to prevent the conflict from escalating further. However, as the AFC president is from Bahrain, it remains to be seen if the decision will be tilted in Bahrain’s favor.