Saudi Arabia Wins Amidst Controversy: Playerโ Sent Off forโค Verbal Exchange with Referee
RIYADH, SAUDI โฃARABIA – 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 backlashโ and debate over the decision. Midfielder Kanno was dismissed late in theโ second half following a direct โexchange withโข Kuwaiti referee โAli, reportedly for tellingโข the โofficial “You’re crazy.”
The incident โขoccurred shortly after Indonesia narrowed theโค score โขto 3-2 with a second penalty conversion โขby Kevin Diks in the โ88th minute. Despiteโค playing a man down, Saudi โคArabia held on for the win,โ securing three points and the top spot in Group B. The dismissalโค has ignited criticism from saudi Arabianโ football figures,โ raising โขquestionsโ about the threshold for disciplinary โคaction in high-stakes international โคcompetition โฃand potentially โขimpactingโ the team’s campaign as they advance to their next match.
Former Saudi national teamโฃ star yasser Al-Qahtani voiced hisโ disapproval, stating, “The Kuwaiti referee led โฃthe match well, butโ it wasโ too much to give Kanno a red card. He should be calmer in โฃaโข match like this.” The sentiment reflects growing frustration with refereeing decisions in the tournament.
However, Saudi Arabia coach Herve Renard adopted aโข more cautious approach. In a post-match press conference, Renard โdeclined to directly โcriticize theโค referee’s judgment. “As coaches,we can โคget frustrated with officials [wasit] โ but I don’t want to comment on the referee’s decision as it mightโ very well be misinterpreted. We just want to focus on the next match,” he said.
The โmatch itself saw a dynamic start, โขwith Indonesia taking an early lead through aโ penalty kick inโ the 11th minute. Saudi Arabia responded quickly, equalizing six minutes later with a goal from Saleh Al-Shamat and then taking the lead inโค the 36th minute via a penalty converted by Feras Al-Buraikan. Al-Buraikan added another โคgoal in the second half before Diks’ late penalty.
Saudi Arabia will aim โto continueโ their winning streak in their nextโ fixture, while โIndonesia faces a challenging matchโค againstโ Iraq on Sunday. the outcomeโ of these games โwill beโค crucial in determining qualification forโ the nextโฃ stage โof the tournament.