Aman Al-Kaf, the “Card Master,” to Referee Indonesia vs. Bahrain; Indonesian FA Officials: We Won’t Stay Silent if Refereeing is Unfair

The Indonesian media has been expressing some concerns lately, and for a reason. The upcoming match between Indonesia and Bahrain in the Round of 18 is set to be officiated by Ahmed Al-Kaf, the Omani referee known as the “Card Master.” According to the Indonesian media, the Indonesian team will not only have to contend with their opponents but also this referee and his assistants.

Ahmed Al-Kaf’s reputation precedes him. In a previous AFC Champions League match between Al-Nassr and Al-Ain, he issued ten cards, nine yellow and one red, earning him the title of “King of Cards.” More impressively, during the 2020 U20 Asian Cup match between Saudi Arabia and Thailand, his penalty decision directly helped Saudi Arabia secure a 1-0 victory, leading many Thai fans to jokingly refer to him as “Saudi Arabia’s secret weapon.”

In a 2019 match between Vietnam and Thailand, Ahmed Al-Kaf was once again in the spotlight. During that game, he awarded a penalty to Thailand, which infuriated Vietnamese fans. Even after the Vietnamese goalkeeper saved the penalty, Ahmed Al-Kaf still disallowed a goal from Vietnam due to an alleged foul by Doan Van Ho on Kawin. This series of decisions turned Ahmed Al-Kaf into something of an internet sensation among Vietnamese fans.

Regarding the upcoming match, Sumarji, a member of the executive committee of the Indonesian Football Association, also issued a warning: “We all hope for fair refereeing since everyone is working towards the dream of the World Cup. However, if any controversial calls are made, we will certainly not stand idly by.”

Currently, in Group C of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers’ Round of 18, the Indonesian team has 2 points and is ranked fourth, slightly better than Australia and China. Bahrain leads with 3 points. Considering the historical encounters between the two teams, particularly Indonesia’s 0-10 defeat to Bahrain in 2012, Indonesia is expected to take this match seriously, despite recently naturalizing several star players from Europe.