In a dramatic and controversial match against Qatar, India’s hopes for a historic entry into the third round of the FIFA World Cup Qualifiers were dashed by questionable refereeing decisions. Indian football fans were outraged, feeling that poor refeering robbed their team of a fair chance.
The game, held at the Jassim bin Hamad Stadium on June 11, saw India take an early lead with Lallianzuala Chhangte’s goal in the 37th minute. However, the match turned controversial when Qatar’s Yousef Aymen equalized in the 73rd minute. The goal was allowed to stand despite the ball appearing to have gone out of play, a decision that puzzled many.
The controversy didn’t end there. In the 85th minute, Qatar scored their second goal through Ahmed AI-Rawi. India’s goalkeeper, Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, had initially saved a header from Qatar, but the ball slipped out of his hand and went out of play. Expecting the referee to stop the game, the Indian defence momentarily halted, but the referee took no action. Considering the confusion, Qatar’s AI Hassan pulled the ball back into play, setting up Aymen for an easy pass into the empty goal.
Fans expressed their anger and disappointment on social media. One user noted that Qatar’s players knew the ball had gone out of play but continued celebrating the goal. Another lamented the decline of sportsmanship in modern sports. Many questioned the absence of a VAR (Video Assistant Referee), which could have corrected the controversial decisions.
In summary, India’s match against Qatar was spoiled by controversial refereeing decisions that left Indian fans feeling cheated and disheartened. The incident has sparked a broader conversation about fairness, sportsmanship, and the integrity of football officiating on the international stage.