Ahmed Al-Kaf

Ahmed Al-Kaf
Al-Kaf in 2020
Born (1983-03-06) 6 March 1983[1]
Oman[2]
Domestic
Years League Role
2008– Omani League Referee
International
Years League Role
2010– FIFA-listed Referee

Ahmed Abu Bakar Said Al-Kaf (Arabic: أحمد أبو بكر سعيد الكاف; born 6 March 1983) is an Omani professional football referee.[3] He has been a full international for FIFA since 2010.[4] He has served as the referee of numerous matches, such as the 2016 AFC Champions League final between Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors and Al Ain FC, the second round of the 2018 AFC Champions League Final.

Early career

Ahmed Al-Kaf was born on March 6, 1983, in Oman. After receiving his FIFA license in 2010, he started officiating various international matches.[5] Al-Kaf served as the referee of the AFC Champions League final twice. He served as the referee for the 2016 AFC Champions League final match between South Korean team Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors and Emirati team Al Ain.[6] In the second round of the 2018 AFC Champions League Final, Al-Kaf served as the referee.[7] Throughout his career, Al-Kaf has officiated 114 matches, and he has handed out a total of 343 yellow cards and 10 red cards.[5]

Controversies

2020 AFC U-23 Championship rulings

On 18 January 2020, Al-Kaf was questioned for several rulings he made in the 2020 AFC U-23 Championship Quarter Finals between Saudi Arabia and Thailand. He awarded Saudi Arabia a free kick in the 78th min, just outside the field. Video assistant referees later changed it to a penalty, but he didn't check the monitor himself.[8] The Football Association of Thailand sent a letter to the Asian Football Confederation, questioning Al-Kaf's fairness during the match.[9]

2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier rulings

On 10 October 2024, Al-Kaf was again questioned after he was accused of making biased decisions in the match between Bahrain and Indonesia in the 2026 World Cup qualification, including allowing the game to go on for nine additional minutes, despite six minutes originally being given. This led to Mohamed Marhoon scoring a 2–2 equalizer with only 20 seconds remaining. In response, defender Shayne Pattynama nearly started a fight with Bahraini team members, leading to the referee team being led off the field by security.[10] Indonesian netizens challenged Al-Kaf's ruling by saying "90+6=99", which became an inside joke within the football community.[11][12] The Football Association of Indonesia (PSSI) sent a complaint letter to FIFA, with executive member Arya Sinulingga saying "[Al-Kaf] extended the adding time just to allow Bahrain to score an equalizer".[13][14]

We affirm its absolute rejection of such out-of-context behavior by a number of fans and some relevant parties, warning of the consequences of these out-of-context behaviors, stressing the commitment of the Omani staff throughout their honorable history to the utmost levels of professionalism and applying the highest levels of transparency, integrity and impartiality in line with international standards. This is what qualified them to become referees of the Asian elite.

— Oman Football Association regarding Al-Kaf's 2024 ruling.[15]

The Oman Football Association would later condemn the "use of threatening and intimidating language" towards Al-Kaf by Indonesian fans,[16] defending the Omani referee team while claiming that the association was looking into the incident with the relevant authorities.[17] The Indonesian FA later requested the AFC to assign referees from neutral zones for the World Cup qualifiers.[18]

References

  1. ↑ "Oman: Referees – Men". Archived from the original on 14 August 2017. Retrieved 10 November 2021.
  2. ↑ "Oman - Ahmed Al Kaf - Profile with news, career statistics and history - Soccerway". soccerway.com. Retrieved 10 November 2021.
  3. ↑ "WorldReferee.com – referee – Ahmed Al Kaaf – bio". worldreferee.com. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 7 February 2016.
  4. ↑ FIFA. "Oman: Referees" Archived 20 January 2015 at the Wayback Machine.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 KSMN (9 October 2024). "IG Ahmed Al Kaf: Profile, Biography and Controversy in the Refereeing World". IDXSport.
  6. ↑ "Oman's Ahmed Al Kaf to referee AFC Champions League final". albawaba. 23 October 2016. Archived from the original on 23 July 2019. Retrieved 11 November 2018.
  7. ↑ "马宁将执法亚冠决赛 在西亚判红点也没含糊过". 腾讯体育 (in Chinese). 18 October 2018. Archived from the original on 22 July 2019. Retrieved 11 November 2018.
  8. ↑ Fox Sports Asia (18 January 2020). "Penalty or No Penalty?". Retrieved 22 January 2020.
  9. ↑ The Phuket News (20 January 2020). "Thais question dubious rulings after Saudi defeat".
  10. ↑ Thu, Trung (11 October 2024). "World media slams referee for controversial decisions in Indonesia, Bahrain game". VnExpress International.
  11. ↑ Kikip (11 October 2024). "Indonesia vs Bahrain ?Unraveling the 90+6 = 99 Minute Time Extension Scandal". Medium. Archived from the original on 20 December 2024. Retrieved 26 February 2025.
  12. ↑ Aurida (13 October 2024). "Hmm, 90+6=99, That's A Bit Different!". Universitas Stekom.
  13. ↑ Thu, Trung (11 October 2024). "Indonesia sends complaint to FIFA for referee's conduct in Bahrain game". VnExpress International.
  14. ↑ "Furious At The Leadership Of Referee Ahmed Al Kaf, PSSI Sends A Letter Of Protest To FIFA And AFC". VoI.id. 11 October 2024.
  15. ↑ "OFA strongly condemns unprovoked attack, use of threatening language on Omani international referee Ahmed Al Kaf". The Arabian Stories. 14 October 2024.
  16. ↑ Thu, Trung (15 October 2024). "Oman condemns Indonesian fans for intimidating referee". VnExpress International.
  17. ↑ Times News Service (14 October 2024). "OFA condemns threats and intimidation against Omani referee Ahmed Al Kaf". Times of Oman.
  18. ↑ Thu, Trung (4 November 2024). "Indonesia demands change in referee assignment at World Cup qualifiers after controversial Bahrain draw". VnExpress International.
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