OFA Responds to Ahmed Al-kaf’s Absence from 2025 FIFA Club World Cup Referee List

The Oman Football Association (OFA) has issued an official response regarding Ahmed Al-kaf’s exclusion from the list of referees for the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup. The Omani referee recently drew controversy following his officiating in an Indonesia national team match.

The incident occurred during the 2026 World Cup qualifier between Indonesia and Bahrain, six months ago. Al-kaf was heavily criticized for decisions that were perceived to disadvantage Indonesia.

One of the most disputed calls was the unusually long stoppage time. Although six minutes were added, the final whistle was delayed until the 90+9th minute—allowing Bahrain to score a dramatic equalizer.

The 2-2 draw sparked outrage among Indonesian football fans, and Al-kaf’s officiating remains a hot topic in the local football scene.

While OFA did not clarify the exact reason behind Al-kaf’s omission, many believe it is connected to his controversial performance in that match.