Referee Ahmed Al Kaf (fourth left) from Oman is escorted by the police after the World Cup Third Round Group C match between Bahrain and Indonesia ended at the Bahrain National Stadium in Riffa, Bahrain, on Oct. 10, 2024. The match ended in a 2-2 draw after a controversial decision by Al Kaf to extend the injury time allowing Bahrain to equalize outside the set additional time. (Reuters/Hamad I Mohammed)
T
he Soccer Association of Indonesia (PSSI) has guaranteed the safety and security of the Bahraini national soccer team for its second-leg World Cup qualifier match scheduled for March 25 at the main stadium of the Bung Karno sports complex.
The Bahrain Soccer Association (BFA) issued statements in Arabic and English on its Instagram account @bahrainfa on Wednesday condemning cyber-attacks allegedly launched by Indonesian soccer fans on the BFA and the Bahraini players.
The BFA stated that the safety of its national team was its top priority. Therefore, it plans to submit a formal request to move the match from Indonesia to ensure its players’ security
PSSI executive committee member Arya Sinulingga confirmed that the association would send a letter to the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) advocating for the match to remain in Jakarta.
Arya emphasized that it would be only fair to play the match in Indonesia, as the previous fixture was held in Bahrain.
"We will guarantee the security and comfort of our guests such as [Bahrain]. Indonesia is a friendly host, so we will definitely provide comfort for them," he told reporters on Wednesday.
The BFA’s request stems from the controversial first-leg World Cup qualifier match between Bahrain and Indonesia on Oct. 10, which ended in a 2-2 draw.
