Monday 14 / October / 2024
Muscat: The Oman Football Association (OFA) issued a strong condemnation on Monday following an unprovoked attack and the use of threatening language directed at Omani international referee Ahmed Abu Bakar Al Kaf and his assistants. The incident occurred after the Asian Qualifiers match for the 2026 FIFA World Cup between Bahrain and Indonesia, held in Riffa, Bahrain, on October 10.
Bahrain managed to score a last-minute goal during added time to secure a 2-2 draw, which sparked protests from Indonesia's camp. They claimed that Al Kaf failed to blow the final whistle after the designated six minutes of added time, with Indonesia leading 2-1 at that point.
In a statement released on X (formerly Twitter), OFA expressed its firm rejection of the behavior displayed by certain fans and parties involved, emphasizing that such actions were entirely unacceptable. The statement read: "We affirm our absolute rejection of this out-of-context behavior by a number of fans and some relevant parties, warning of the consequences of these actions. We stress the long-standing professionalism, transparency, integrity, and impartiality demonstrated by the Omani refereeing team, which has consistently adhered to international standards and earned them a place among Asia’s elite referees."
OFA further called on FIFA and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) to fulfill their obligations under the applicable rules and regulations to protect referees and ensure their safety. "We are working in close coordination with the relevant authorities to achieve this goal," the statement added.
Reaffirming its unwavering support, OFA concluded: "The Oman Football Association once again pledges to continue its support for the Omani referee team, led by international referee Ahmed Al Kaf. We remain confident in their competence and commend their performance, wishing them continued success in their continental and international careers."
