Indonesia receive three red cards as team official pushes referee after losing to Iraq in World Cup qualifiers

A screenshot of Indonesia players confronting Chinese referee Ma Ning during the match against Iraq in the World Cup qualifiers on Oct. 11, 2025

Moments after the final whistle on the Saturday match, several Indonesia players and officials surrounded the referee. TV cameras captured Shayne Pattynama, who was on the bench at the time, being shown a red card following a scuffle involving Iraq head coach Graham Arnold. Then, the head of the national team Kombes Pol Surmadji angrily pushed Ma Ning, earning an immediate red. After that, midfielder Thom Haye was also sent off after confronting the referee, even though captain Jay Idzes tried to stop him.

Ma Ning, had maintained control through the first hour of play, but the intensity escalated late in the match as several controversial decisions from the Chinese referee team angered Indonesia.

In the 67th minute, Zaid Tahseen was shown only a yellow card for pulling down Ole Romeny, even though the foul denied a clear scoring opportunity. 10 minutes later, Kevin Diks got on the ball first while Merchas Doski missed and kicked him, but referee Ma said Diks committed the foul.

Meanwhile, in a similar play in the 86th minute, Romeny was booked for missing a clearance and kicking Tahseen.

The climax came deep into stoppage time as Diks made a high-foot challenge with Tahseen and was hit in the face by the opponent’s arm in the box. Indonesia demanded a penalty, but referee Ma had already called the foul for the high-foot challenge, while Tahseen received a second yellow card and was sent off.

 

 

Indonesia receive three red cards as team official pushes referee after losing to Iraq in World Cup qualifiers

Trưởng đoàn Indonesia đẩy trọng tài sau trận thua Iraq

Ma Ning is China's top FIFA referee and has officiated at all major Asian tournaments. Notably, the 46-year-old referee officiated the 2023 Asian Cup final, awarding three penalties to host Qatar in their 3-1 win over Jordan.

Online backlash followed shortly after the game. Indonesian fans flooded the social media of the Asian Football Confederation with criticism, with some editing photos of Ma Ning in a clown costume.

"Hey AFC, can you organize a fair match? With fair refereeing? And VAR?" one user wrote.

Indonesia’s leading sports outlet Bola called Ma Ning’s performance "terrible," accusing him of bias and reluctance to consult VAR on plays that might benefit Indonesia.

Prior to the qualifiers, the Football Association of Indonesia (PSSI) had formally asked the AFC to appoint non-West Asian referees for Group B matches, fearing potential bias, but the request went unanswered. In this game, the referee was non-West Asian, but still made controversial decisions.

In their earlier 2-3 loss to Saudi Arabia, Indonesia players had also voiced frustration at Kuwaiti referee Ahmad Al Ali, though the reaction was far less intense.

The defeat to Iraq officially ended Indonesia’s 2026 World Cup dream. Coach Patrick Kluivert’s side finished bottom of Group B after two losses, while the group’s top spot, and a direct qualification, will be decided when Saudi Arabia face Iraq in two days.