FIFA Imposes Multiple Sanctions on Indonesia Following World Cup Qualifier Incidents

Indonesia's World Cup qualifying campaign has been marred by a series of disciplinary actions from FIFA, resulting in multiple penalties for various infractions during their recent matches. The football governing body has issued two significant fines and a warning following incidents in their first four matches of the 2026 World Cup third qualifying round.

The most severe punishment came after Indonesia's match against China on October 15, where they were fined 10,000 Swiss francs ($11,404) for match delays. This followed an earlier warning for a similar offense during their September home game against Australia at the Gelora Bung Karno Stadium. The situation was further complicated by events during the Bahrain match, where post-match chaos led to additional penalties. Team leader Kombes Pol Sumardji received a one-match suspension, while assistant coach Kim Jong-jin was banned for four matches, with both officials also being fined 5,000 Swiss francs each.

The Bahrain match controversy centered around referee Ahmed Al Kaf's decision to extend play beyond the announced injury time, leading to Bahrain's 98th-minute equalizer in the 2-2 draw. The aftermath saw intense reactions from Indonesian officials and players, resulting in a red card and near-physical confrontation. The situation escalated further with Indonesian fans reportedly making death threats against the Omani referee and Bahrain team members, prompting Bahrain to request their upcoming March 2025 match be moved to a neutral venue. Despite these challenges, Indonesia's football association (PSSI) has committed to ensuring safety for future matches and maintains that these incidents don't represent their typical fan behavior.