FIFA did not 'overturn controversial result of Bahrain-Indonesia World Cup qualifier'
- Published on October 23, 2024 at 06:43
- 4 min read
- By Felix NATHANIEL, AFP Indonesia
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"Bahrain gives up -- Omani referee proven to have committed three counts of fraud, FIFA declares national team the winner of the match," read the Indonesian-language title of a YouTube video shared on October 11, 2024.
The title refers to a controversial World Cup qualifying match between Bahrain and Indonesia on October 10 (archived link). The game ended in a 2-2 draw after the home side equalised in the ninth minute of stoppage time at the end of the second half.
Match officials had initially indicated there would be six minutes of stoppage time, and Bahrain's late equaliser sparked protests from the Indonesian side about the amount of time added on by the referee (archived link).
The video -- viewed more than two million times -- shows FIFA president Gianni Infantino speaking at a podium with overlaid Indonesian-language text that reads: "Referee Al-Kaf proven to have committed three counts of fraud! FIFA declares the Indonesian national team the winner against Bahrain."
It then cuts to footage of Indonesian Football Association chairman Erick Thohir appearing to celebrate the decision with a group of other people.
The same video was also shared on Facebook here, here and here.
Comments on the post suggested users believed FIFA had changed the result of the World Cup qualifier.
"Thank you FIFA president. May you always be healthy, have a long life and your wealth increase. Amen," read one comment.
Another said: "Bravo Garuda Indonesia, keep moving forward, we are supporting you. Thank you Mr Erick."
But a wave of misinformation about the match has flooded social media, and this video does not show FIFA changing the result.
Unrelated clips
A reverse image search on Google using keyframes from the falsely shared video led to a similar clip of Infantino speaking in Rwanda.
The clip was shared on the verified YouTube channel of Rwandan media outlet Kigali Today on March 16, 2023.
It was titled "The world of football meets in Kigali! FIFA Congress Opening Ceremony | Kagame and Infantino remarks" (archived link).
The section used in the falsely shared video corresponds to the Kigali Today video's 3:23 mark.
Below is a screenshot comparison between the falsely shared video (left) and the Kigali Today video (right):
In the footage, Infantino says: "It is a historic congress because it is the first FIFA electoral congress taking place in Africa."
The FIFA president makes no mention of Indonesia or Bahrain in his remarks.
A reverse image search on Yandex led to the footage of Thohir celebrating published on his verified YouTube channel on April 19, 2024 (archived link).
The video is titled, "Watching the U-23 Asian Cup: Indonesia vs Australia #garudamuda #AFCU23".
The section used in the falsely shared video corresponds to the 1:02 mark of Thohir's clip when he is celebrating a penalty save by the Indonesian goalkeeper.
Indonesia would beat Australia 1-0, their first win in the Under-23 Asian Cup campaign (archived link).
Below is a screenshot comparison between the falsely shared video (left) and the clip on Thohir's YouTube channel (right):
There have been no official reports of the referee for the Bahrain-Indonesia match, Omani official Ahmed Al-Kaf, committing "fraud".
The Oman Football Association has condemned "in the strongest terms the unprovoked attack and the use of threatening and intimidating language" against the official.
In a statement posted on its official X account, the association called on world football's governing body FIFA and the Asian Football Confederation to "assume their responsibility" to protect referees (archived link).
Bahrain have asked for the return fixture to be moved out of Indonesia, after players were subjected to what the country's football association described as "a torrent of insults, slander, threats and hacking operations" online (archived link).
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