Indonesia sues FIFA and AFC after losing to Saudi Arabia

The Indonesian Football Federation (PSSI) recently sent a complaint to both AFC and FIFA about the Indonesian team's loss to Saudi Arabia in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.

Indonesia (left) suffered many disadvantages against Saudi Arabia - Photo: BOLA

Before this match, PSSI had repeatedly voiced its opposition to FIFA as well as the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) because of the disadvantages the Indonesian team had to endure in the fourth round of the World Cup qualifiers.

Specifically, Saudi Arabia was chosen as the host of Group B, forcing Iraq and Indonesia to play away games. Not only that, Indonesia is also the team with the most difficult schedule, having to play both matches early, with no more than 3 days off.

Before the match, PSSI had requested AFC to change the referee team for the match because of concerns that the Kuwaiti referees would favor the neighboring team Saudi Arabia. However, this request was rejected by AFC.

And after the match, according to Kompas, PSSI once again filed a complaint with the AFC. Asian Football also reported that PSSI also brought the matter to FIFA.

But the complaint this time is not related to the technical aspects of the match. It also revolves around the fact that many Indonesian fans were not allowed to enter the stadium despite having tickets.

Kompas newspaper reported that around 4,000 Indonesian fans had arrived long before the match began. However, many of them were stuck outside the King Abdullah Stadium as the match was about to start.

Some of them are families of Indonesian players. According to Indonesian media, Thom Haye's wife, Bibeche Riva, is 6 months pregnant and even suffered from cramps from standing for too long.

Similarly, Jay Idzes' mother was almost "victimized by police violence," Kompas reported. Dean James' girlfriend was not even allowed to cross the fence.

Mr. Sumardji, as Chairman of the National Team Governing Body, expressed his dissatisfaction over the matter and firmly appealed the case to AFC as well as FIFA.

Indonesia will face Iraq in the second match at 2:30 a.m. on October 12 (Vietnam time). PSSI hopes that this incident will not happen again.

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HUY DANG

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/indonesia-kien-len-fifa-va-afc-sau-tran-thua-saudi-arabia-20251011094204215.htm