Poor refereeing cost us match with Japan: Oman Football Association

Having been on the receiving end of poor standards of refereeing in their 1-0 defeat to Japan, the Oman Football Association has now decided to lodge an official complaint with the Asian Football Confederation

Times News Service

MUSCAT: Oman’s national football association said that poor refereeing was one of the main reasons the country could be facing an exit from this year’s AFC Asian Cup.

Having been on the receiving end of poor standards of refereeing in their 1-0 defeat to Japan, the Oman Football Association (OFA) has now decided to lodge an official complaint with the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), the continent’s football governing body.

A statement released by the Oman Football Association said, “Oman Football Association President Salim bin Said Al Wahaibi expressed his resentment at the unfair refereeing of Oman’s match against Japan at the Asian Cup. This means that Japan have sealed their place in the last 16 in the 2019 edition of the tournament with a controversial 1-0 win over Oman in Abu Dhabi.” should not have been awarded in the first place.

“Everyone has seen now in the replays that the foul was made outside the box, but the referee was maybe standing in a place where he could not see it,” he explained.

“It’s not just that, but we were also not given a clear penalty, which should have been given to us. The rules state that we cannot complain about the decisions of the referees, but we have written to the general secretary of the AFC and will be awaiting their response.”

Oman are now third in Group F, above Turkmenistan on goal difference, but both teams are at zero points. This is not the first time Oman have suffered a near miss at this year’s Asian Cup.

Four days prior to the Japan defeat, Uzbekistan had beaten Oman 2-1, with substitute Eldor Shomurudov scoring the winning goal just five minutes before the end of the game. Odil Ahmedov had opened the scoring for the Uzbeks, only for Mohsin Al Ghassani to equalise in the 72nd minute.

Although Oman are warranted to file an official complaint, Chuck Martini, head coach of the Muscat Football Academy, said that all things considered, the decision of a referee on the pitch is final.