Holiday Ayo - The ASEAN Football's official Instagram account, which regularly reports on football news in Southeast Asia, reported that FIFA and the AFC rejected the PSSI's protest against Kuwaiti referee Ahmed Al-Ali, who was scheduled to officiate the Indonesian national team's match against Saudi Arabia in the fourth round of the 2026 World Cup Asian Qualifiers.

The PSSI had already sent a protest note regarding the selection of Al-Ali as the referee for the Indonesia vs. Saudi Arabia match, as the referee's country of origin is in the same region as the Green Falcons squad.

The AFC ignored the PSSI's protest. In a written statement addressed to PSSI Secretary General Yunus Nusi, the AFC provided an explanation regarding the selection of the Indonesian vs. Saudi Arabia referee.

The AFC first emphasized its commitment to upholding fairness in matches.

"It should be noted that the AFC is fully committed to upholding all established procedures and protocols [approved by the AFC Referees Committee] in the appointment of match referees, with the aim of ensuring fairness, transparency, and integrity," the AFC wrote.

The AFC further explained that selecting referees from the same region as a country is not uncommon in international football.

"We also wish to reiterate that appointing referees from the same Member Association is standard and widely accepted practice in international competitions.

The regional affiliation of the match officials does not pose a conflict of interest, as they are elite AFC referees who are fully trained and responsible for delivering their best without fear or favour," the AFC stated.

According to the AFC, the referees were not selected haphazardly, and they are competing for refereeing spots at next year's World Cup.

"Furthermore, the appointment of referees for the AQ26PO [Asian Qualifying Playoff 2026] was conducted through a rigorous process, based on a comprehensive performance evaluation and subject to final FIFA ratification."

"Furthermore, this group of referees is also competing for selection as referees at the FIFA World Cup, USA, Canada, and Mexico 2026, and their performance is continuously monitored and evaluated by FIFA," the AFC wrote.

In its closing statement, the AFC reiterated its position as football's governing body and will not compromise the quality of Asian football.

"The AFC remains steadfast in its commitment to maintaining the highest standards of refereeing in all competitions. Ensuring the quality and professionalism of match officials remains a top priority for the Confederation, and the AFC is proud that our match officials are considered among the best in the world. Thank you for your attention and understanding in this matter," the AFC said in a statement.