In the first leg of the 3rd qualifying round of the 2026 World Cup, the Bahrain team hosted Indonesia at home (October 11) and held their opponent to a 2-2 draw.
The match also caused a lot of controversy, especially the strong reaction of Indonesian fans regarding the refereeing. Therefore, the Bahrain Football Association has proposed that the Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) organize the second leg in March 2025 on a neutral ground.
Bahrain said they did not want to play on Indonesian soil because of security concerns. They said Indonesian fans had repeatedly become too excited and were showing signs of losing control after the recent match.
Most recently, Indonesian fans have been making waves on social media. They have been criticizing and mocking the Bahrain team. Many have even attacked referee Ahmed Al-Kaf (Omani) because they believe he is biased towards Bahrain.
Not only that, football fields in this Southeast Asian country are also considered unsafe. In recent years, many match venues in Indonesia have had many incidents of fighting and assault.
As in 2022, the incident at Kanjuruhan Stadium (East Java) left more than 100 people dead and many injured, becoming a "stain" on Indonesian football.
In addition to inappropriate language in the stands, Indonesian spectators also stormed the field to attack referees and players. Stones were thrown at the visiting team’s vehicles. Therefore, Bahrain’s desire to move the stadium away from Indonesia is well-founded.
In response to the Bahrain Football Federation's proposal, coach Shin Tae-yong said: "We will defeat Bahrain, but on the condition that the second leg must take place at home in Indonesia, not at a neutral venue.
Indonesian fans are looking forward to the second leg against Bahrain at home, not in another place outside Indonesia. As for me, I always trust my players."
The Indonesian media also added fuel to the controversy. Many newspapers suggested that the Indonesian Football Federation (PSSI) leave the AFC and join the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) if the match against Bahrain is held at a neutral venue.
PSSI filed a lawsuit against referee Ahmed Al-Kaf, who officiated the first leg between Indonesia and Bahrain. PSSI claimed that the referee was biased towards the opposing team, but the AFC rejected the lawsuit.
The lawsuit against AFC by the Indonesian Football Federation and the media is also the cause of the country's fans losing control on social media.
Currently, FIFA and AFC have not yet given an official response to the Bahrain Football Federation's proposal.
