Shin Taeyong's anger explodes!→"I think the judgment is biased" Public criticism + the team is also angry...Inni lost points just before the end → 2-2 draw by Tonghan

Oct 11, 2024

Indonesia coach Shin Tae-yong was furious. The anger was even greater because Indonesia really missed three points. Head coach Shin also burst his anger against the referee as the game continued at the time when the whistle was supposed to go off, which continued at the press conference. After the game, Shin said, `I want to double-check the referee's decision during the game. In order for the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) to develop further, the judgment and leadership of referees must also be improved. The extra time was supposed to be six minutes, but it was more than nine minutes. I think these judges' decisions are biased," he publicly criticized the issue of additional time. REUTERS Yonhap News

Shin Tae-yong, the Indonesian coach, was furious. Unfortunately, he missed three points, so the anger was even greater.

Indonesia drew 2-2 against Bahrain in the third Group C match of the third Asian qualifying round for the 2026 North-China World Cup at the Bahrain National Stadium in Lipa, Bahrain on the 11th (Korea time).

Indonesia allowed Bahrain's Mohamed Marhun to score the first free-kick in the 15th minute of the first half, but Ragnar Oratmangoen pushed in the equalizer in the extra time of the first half. After finishing the first half 1-1 in the 29th minute of the second half, Rafael Struijk shook the net with a right-footed curl from the left side of the penalty box to make a 2-1 turnaround.

Head coach Shin Tae-yong and the Indonesian team were certain of victory, but it wasn't over until the end. In the 9th minute of extra time in the second half, Bahrain's theatrical goal was scored. Marhun scored an equalizer from a corner kick, and the two teams drew 2-2.

ReutersYonhap News

However, there was a problem. The extra time in the second half of the game was a problem. Originally, the added time was 6 minutes, but referee Ahmed Abu Bakar Said Al-Kaf did not blow the ending whistle so that the added time was 9 minutes. There was no reason to increase the extra time in particular because the score did not break out in the second half of the extra time. In the end, Bahrain, which gained more time with the addition of extra time, scored an equalizer in the 9th minute of extra time in the second half, forcing Indonesia to explode further.

Head coach Shin also burst his anger against the referee as the game continued at the time when the whistle was supposed to go off, which continued at the press conference.

According to the Indonesian Football Association (PSSI), Shin said after the game, `Both teams did their best until the referee blew the final whistle"I want to double-check the referee's decision during the game. In order for the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) to develop further, the judgment and leadership of referees must also be improved. The extra time was supposed to be six minutes, but it was more than nine minutes. I think these judges' decisions are biased," he publicly criticized the issue of additional time.

It also conveyed the atmosphere of the team. Shin said, `The players are also angry at why this decision was made, and I think everyone can understand it," he said, adding that the team was also angry.

ReutersYonhap News

As the controversy continued after the game, some even argued that the background of the decision was the aftermath of the AFC chairman from Bahrain. Indonesia's CNN and Sepakbola speculated the reason for the biased judgment, saying that AFC President Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim al-Khalifa is from Bahrain.

Sepakbola said 'It is questionable that a referee with an arrogant nationality has been appointed. Oman had raised questions in consideration of its affiliation with the West Asian Football Federation, a soccer organization such as Bahrain. However, AFC allowed this because it did not only allow referees from the same country or organization. Bahraini referees, for example, are prohibited from hosting Group C matches where Bahrain is located. Al-Khaf said he had to be protected by security when he left the stadium, expressing his doubts and anger at the referee.

Indonesia, which only added one more point, finished fifth among the six teams with three consecutive draws in Group C of the third qualifying round. Group C is currently at the bottom of China's upset loss to second-place Australia, while Japan, which has won three consecutive games, is at the top.

Fortunately, even if Indonesia is fifth, the gap between second and fourth places is only one point. From second-place Australia to fourth-place Bahrain have all four points, with little gap with Indonesia, which has three points. Indonesia is scheduled to play an away game against China on the 15th, and during the A-match period in November, Japan and Saudi Arabia will be brought home to play.

digh1229@sportschosun.com