The football association in Bahrain has stated that they will ask for a World Cup qualifying match that is set to take place in March this year, not to take place in Indonesia, due to Indonesia having people who have threatened to kill the national team of Bahrain.
“Considering the team’s safety in such circumstances, the Association will apply to have the match relocated,” it said in a statement that was distributed over X on Wednesday.
“The association does not hesitate to say that the team members should not be put in such situations, any for that matter because of the Indonesian fans’ actions which are wild and outrageous.”
This comes after a 2-2 draw game in Bahrain on October 10th, where Bahrain scored an equalizing goal in the 9th minute of additional time.
Indonesian officials and fans, however, lodged complaints that the additional time played in the second half was excessive.
A statement dated Wednesday from Bahrain’s football association said its players had since been “exposed to extreme and malicious language, slander, threats and hacking interventions””.
The report went on to register ‘utter disbelief at the numerous death threats that were directed to team members on their private accounts’ and accused the Indonesian public about “total scorn for human lives.”.
On Wednesday night, Indonesia football association executive committee member Arya Mahendra Sinulingga assured reporters that “there is no need to panic” in regard to player safety.
“We shall ensure the comfort and safety of our visitors, like in Bahrain, because the Indonesian people are a very hospitable people to the visitors” he maintained the match should be conducted in Jakarta.
“In regards to social media, sometimes the Indonesian netizens make noise, but in fact they are good people in day-to-day life. Indonesia is caring. Our country is known for being a friendly country.”