The semi-final match between U23 Vietnam and U23 Philippines at the 2025 U23 Southeast Asian Championship ended with a 2-1 victory over Khuat Van Khang and his teammates, but also left a regrettable mark from the referee team.
In the 5th minute of injury time of the second half, striker Nguyen Quoc Viet escaped to speed between two central defenders Noah Leddel (number 2) and Jaime Rosquillo (number 14). When Quoc Viet was preparing to face the goalkeeper, he was pulled down right next to the penalty area.
Referee Muhammad Usaid Jamal immediately showed Rosquillo a red card. Notably, Rosquillo did not participate in the foul.
The slow-motion situation clearly showed that Leddel was the one who pulled Quoc Viet's hand from behind, leading to a clear obstacle to the opportunity to score. While Leddel waited in wait for the referee's decision and expressed his concern, Rosquillo was ordered to leave the pitch despite not being directly involved in the incident.
Because the tournament does not apply VAR, the referee's decision on the field is considered final. However, the Philippines can completely file a complaint with the ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) to request a review of the situation, especially in the context of their third-place match on July 28.
This incident once again shows the importance of referee support technology such as VAR. For the U23 Philippines, it is hoped that the matter will be clarified to ensure fairness for the remaining matches.
