Saudi Arabia Wins Amidst Controversy: Player Sent Off for Verbal Exchange with Referee
RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA – A Saudi Arabian player was shown a red card during Thursday’s 3-2 victory over Indonesia in Group B of the Asian Games, sparking immediate backlash and debate over the decision. Midfielder Kanno was dismissed late in the second half following a direct exchange with Kuwaiti referee Ali, reportedly for telling the official “You’re crazy.”
The incident occurred shortly after Indonesia narrowed the score to 3-2 with a second penalty conversion by Kevin Diks in the 88th minute. Despite playing a man down, Saudi Arabia held on for the win, securing three points and the top spot in Group B. The dismissal has ignited criticism from saudi Arabian football figures, raising questions about the threshold for disciplinary action in high-stakes international competition and potentially impacting the team’s campaign as they advance to their next match.
Former Saudi national team star yasser Al-Qahtani voiced his disapproval, stating, “The Kuwaiti referee led the match well, but it was too much to give Kanno a red card. He should be calmer in a match like this.” The sentiment reflects growing frustration with refereeing decisions in the tournament.
However, Saudi Arabia coach Herve Renard adopted a more cautious approach. In a post-match press conference, Renard declined to directly criticize the referee’s judgment. “As coaches,we can get frustrated with officials [wasit] but I don’t want to comment on the referee’s decision as it might very well be misinterpreted. We just want to focus on the next match,” he said.
The match itself saw a dynamic start, with Indonesia taking an early lead through a penalty kick in the 11th minute. Saudi Arabia responded quickly, equalizing six minutes later with a goal from Saleh Al-Shamat and then taking the lead in the 36th minute via a penalty converted by Feras Al-Buraikan. Al-Buraikan added another goal in the second half before Diks’ late penalty.
Saudi Arabia will aim to continue their winning streak in their next fixture, while Indonesia faces a challenging match against Iraq on Sunday. the outcome of these games will be crucial in determining qualification for the next stage of the tournament.
