Bahrain wants World Cup qualifier moved from Indonesia after ‘death threats’
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Bahrain and Indonesia players clash after their World Cup qualifying match on Oct 10.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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MANAMA – Bahrain Football Association (BFA) said it would request that a World Cup qualifying match scheduled for March be moved outside of Indonesia after the national team allegedly received death threats from Indonesian fans.
“The association will submit a request to remove the match from Indonesia to preserve the safety of the team,” it said in a statement posted on social media platform X on Oct 16.
“The association refuses to expose the lives of team members to any potential danger, especially since the actions of the Indonesian fans are completely unacceptable and incorrect.”
The move comes after a controversial 2-2 draw between both teams on Oct 10 in Bahrain, with the home side equalising in the ninth minute of injury time, despite the fourth official adding only six extra minutes.
Indonesian officials and supporters afterwards complained the injury time had gone on for too long, with their football association (PSSI) later accusing Omani referee Ahmed Al-Kaf of intentionally extending the match until Bahrain found the back of the net.
“We are very disappointed with the refereeing,” said PSSI executive member Arya Mahendra Sinulingga.
“It seemed like they extended the added time just to allow Bahrain to score an equaliser.”
The Oct 16 statement from BFA said its players had since been “subjected to a torrent of insults, slander, threats and hacking operations” online.
It also expressed “extreme surprise at the multiple death threats received by the team members on their personal social media accounts – a move that reflects the Indonesian public’s disregard for human lives”.
If the BFA’s request is denied and Bahrain refuse to play the fixture, then Indonesia would be awarded an automatic 3-0 win, though the PSSI feels it does not have to come to this.
In a statement to reporters on Oct 16, Sinulingga said there was “no need to worry” about player safety.
“We will guarantee the safety and comfort for our guests, like Bahrain, because the Indonesian nation is a nation that is friendly to guests,” he said, insisting that the match should stay in Jakarta.
“About social media, sometimes Indonesian netizens are noisy but actually, they are friendly and good in their daily lives. Indonesia is friendly.
“Our nation is famous as a friendly nation.”
Bahrain, who are currently ranked 76th in the world, face China in their next Group C match in November, while Indonesia, ranked 129th, take on leaders Japan, who have 10 points.
Bahrain have five points after four games, as do Australia and Saudi Arabia, while Indonesia have three, level with bottom side China. AFP
