Ahmed Al-Kaf
{{short description|Omani professional football referee (born 1983)}}
{{pp-blp|small=yes}}
{{use dmy dates|date=October 2024}}
{{Infobox football official
| name = Ahmed Al-Kaf
| image = Ahmed Al-Kaf 1 (cropped).jpg
| caption = Al-Kaf in 2020
| full_name = Ahmed Abu Bakar Said Al-Kaf{{Cite web |url=https://us.soccerway.com/referees/ahmed-abu-bakar-said-al-kaf/329731/ |title=Oman – Ahmed Al Kaf – Profile with news, career statistics and history – Soccerway |website=soccerway.com |access-date=10 November 2021}}
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1983|03|06|df=yes}}{{cite web |url=http://www.fifa.com/development/education-and-technical/referees/association=oma/index.html |title=Oman: Referees – Men |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170814160725/http://www.fifa.com/development/education-and-technical/referees/association=oma/index.html |access-date=10 November 2021 |archive-date=14 August 2017}}
| birth_place = Oman
| death_date =
| death_place =
| otheroccupation =
| years1 = 2008–
| years2 =
| league1 = Omani League
| league2 =
| role1 = Referee
| role2 =
| internationalyears1 = 2010–
| confederation1 = FIFA-listed
| internationalrole1 = Referee
}}
Ahmed Abu Bakar Said Al-Kaf ({{langx|ar|أحمد أبو بكر سعيد الكاف}}; born 6 March 1983) is an Omani professional football referee.{{cite web |url=http://worldreferee.com/site/copy.php?linkID=7937&linkType=referee&contextType=bio |title=WorldReferee.com – referee – Ahmed Al Kaaf – bio |publisher=worldreferee.com |access-date=7 February 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304050116/http://worldreferee.com/site/copy.php?linkID=7937&linkType=referee&contextType=bio |archive-date=4 March 2016 |url-status=live}} He has been a full international for FIFA since 2010.FIFA. [https://www.fifa.com/associations/association=oma/footballofficials/referees/peoplekind=ref.html "Oman: Referees"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150120061232/http://www.fifa.com/associations/association=oma/footballofficials/referees/peoplekind=ref.html |date=20 January 2015}}. He has served as the referee of numerous matches, such as the 2016 AFC Champions League final between Jeonbuk Hyundai and Al Ain FC, the second round of the 2018 AFC Champions League Final.
Early life and career
{{Expand section|date=November 2024}}
Ahmed Al-Kaf was born March 6, 1983, in Oman. After receiving his FIFA license in 2010, he was entrusted with officiating various international matches.{{cite web|author=KSMN|date=2024-10-09|website=IDXSport|title=IG Ahmed Al Kaf: Profile, Biography and Controversy in the Refereeing World|url=https://www.idxsport.com/id/profil-biodata-ahmed-al-kaf-dan-kontroversinya/}} He served as the referee of the AFC Champions League final twice, having officiated the 2016 AFC Champions League final match between South Korean team Jeonbuk Hyundai and Emirati team Al Ain,{{cite news |title=Oman's Ahmed Al Kaf to referee AFC Champions League final|url=https://www.albawaba.com/sport/omans-ahmed-al-kaf-named-referee-afc-champions-league-final-896234 |accessdate=2018-11-11 |work=albawaba |date=2016-10-23 |archive-date=2019-07-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190723042350/https://www.albawaba.com/sport/omans-ahmed-al-kaf-named-referee-afc-champions-league-final-896234}} as well as during the second round of the 2018 AFC Champions League Final.{{cite news |title=马宁将执法亚冠决赛 在西亚判红点也没含糊过 |url=http://news.jstv.com/a/20181018/1539832228229.shtml |accessdate=2018-11-11 |work=腾讯体育 |date=2018-10-18 |archive-date=2019-07-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190722062353/http://news.jstv.com/a/20181018/1539832228229.shtml |language=zh}} Throughout his career, Al-Kaf has officiated 114 matches, issuing a total of 343 yellow cards and 10 red cards.
Games officiated
=Asian Games=
=AFF Championships=
| class="wikitable" style="margin:1em auto 1em auto; text-align:center; font-size:small;"
! Date ! Local ! Result ! Visitor ! Site ! Phase ! {{Yellow card}} ! {{Sent off|2}} ! {{Sent off|0}} ! Penalty ! References | ||||||||||
| {{Date|2014-11-23}} | Singapore | 1 – 2 | Thailand | National Stadium | Fourth official | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | {{Cite web|title= Singapore vs. Thailand 1 - 2 |url= https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2014/11/23/asia/asean-football-championship/singapore/thailand/1875281/ |website=us.soccerway.com}} |
| {{Date|2014-11-26}} | Malaysia | 2 – 3 | Thailand | Jalan Besar Stadium | Group stage | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | {{Cite web|title= Malaysia vs. Thailand 2 - 3|url= https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2014/11/26/asia/asean-football-championship/malaysia/thailand/1875283/|website=us.soccerway.com}} |
| {{Date|2014-11-29}} | Singapore | 1 – 3 | Malaysia | National Stadium | Group stage | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | {{Cite web|title=Singapore vs. Malaysia 1 - 3 |url=https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2014/11/29/asia/asean-football-championship/singapore/malaysia/1875285/ |website=us.soccerway.com}} |
| class="wikitable" style="margin:1em auto 1em auto; text-align:center; font-size:small;"
! Date ! Local ! Result ! Visitor ! Site ! Phase ! {{Yellow card}} ! {{Sent off|2}} ! {{Sent off|0}} ! Penalty ! References | ||||||||||
| {{Date|2018-12-02}} | Malaysia | 0 – 0 | Thailand | Bukit Jalil National Stadium | Group stage | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | {{Cite web|title= Malaysia vs. Thailand 0 - 0|url= https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2018/12/01/asia/asean-football-championship/malaysia/thailand/2784758/|website=us.soccerway.com}} |
=AFC Asian Cup=
| class="wikitable" style="margin:1em auto 1em auto; text-align:center; font-size:small;"
|+ 2019 AFC Asian Cup (United Arab Emirates) |
| scope="col"|Date
!scope="col"|Match card !scope="col"|Venue !scope="col"|Round |
|---|
| 6 January 2019
! scope="row" | {{Fb|AUS}} – {{Fb|JOR}} ! scope="row" | Hazza bin Zayed Stadium |Group stage |
| 16 January 2019
! scope="row" | {{Fb|VIE}} – {{Fb|YEM}} ! scope="row" | Hazza bin Zayed Stadium |Group stage |
=FIFA World Cup=
International club tournaments
= AFC Cup =
= AFC Champions League Elite =
=Stars League=
| class="wikitable" style="margin:1em auto 1em auto; text-align:center; font-size:small;"
! Date ! Local ! Result ! Visitor ! Site ! Phase ! {{Yellow card}} ! {{Sent off|2}} ! {{Sent off|0}} ! Penalty ! References | ||||||||||
| {{Date|2015-10-17}} | Al-Khor | 2 – 4 | Al-Rayyan | Thani bin Jassim Stadium | Group stage | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | {{Cite web|title=Al Khor vs. Al Rayyan 2 - 4|url= https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2015/10/17/qatar/stars-league/al-khor-sc/al-rayyan-sc/2145696/|website=us.soccerway.com}} |
| {{Date|2017-10-28}} | Al-Duhail | 1 – 1 | Al-Gharafa | Abdullah bin Khalifa Stadium | Group stage | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | {{Cite web|title= Al Duhail vs. Al Gharafa 1 - 1|url= https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2017/10/28/qatar/stars-league/al-shorta/al-gharrafa-club-doha-/2573626/|website=us.soccerway.com}} |
Controversies
=2020 AFC U-23 Championship rulings=
On 18 January 2020, Al-Kaf was questioned for several dubious rulings made in the 2020 AFC U-23 Championship Quarter Finals between Saudi Arabia against host, Thailand. He gave away a penalty{{clarify|date=February 2025|reason=The article states it was later a penalty. What was it before?}} in the 78th min, awarding Saudi Arabia a free kick just outside the box. Video assistant referees later changed it to a penalty, but he didn't check the monitor himself.{{Cite web |last=Fox Sports Asia |date=18 January 2020 |title=Penalty or No Penalty? |url=https://x.com/FSAsiaLive/status/1218502581330333696 |access-date=22 January 2020}} The Football Association of Thailand sent an official letter to the Asian Football Confederation for questioning the fairness and integrity of officiating in the match.{{Cite web |last=The Phuket News |date=20 January 2020 |title=Thais question dubious rulings after Saudi defeat |url=https://www.thephuketnews.com/thais-question-dubious-rulings-after-saudi-defeat-74453.php}}
=2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier rulings=
On 10 October 2024, Al-Kaf again came under heavy scrutiny 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 and no major time wasting. 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 escorted off the field by security.{{cite web|url=https://e.vnexpress.net/news/sports/football/world-media-slams-referee-for-controversial-decisions-in-indonesia-bahrain-game-4803164.html|title=World media slams referee for controversial decisions in Indonesia, Bahrain game|date=11 October 2024|last=Thu|first=Trung|website=VnExpress International}} Al-Kaf's ruling was protested by the Indonesian football community, who coined the incorrect mathematical equation "90+6=99" as an inside joke.{{cite web|url=https://magenta.republika.co.id/posts/482219/ramai-meme-90-ditambah-6-sama-dengan-99-salahnya-di-mana|title=Ramai Meme 90 Tambah 6 Sama dengan 99, Salahnya di Mana?|editor=Emhade Dahlan|date=13 October 2024|website=Magenta|language=id}}{{cite web|url=https://stekom.ac.id/en/article/hmm-90699-thats-a-bit-different|title=Hmm, 90+6=99, That's A Bit Different!|author=Aurida|date=13 October 2024|website=Universitas Stekom}} The Football Association of Indonesia (PSSI) had sent a complaint letter to FIFA, with executive member Arya Sinulingga stating "[Al-Kaf] extended the adding time just to allow Bahrain to score an equalizer".{{cite web|title=Indonesia sends complaint to FIFA for referee's conduct in Bahrain game|url=https://e.vnexpress.net/news/sports/football/indonesia-sends-complaint-to-fifa-for-referee-s-conduct-in-bahrain-game-4803036.html|date=11 October 2024|last=Thu|first=Trung|website=VnExpress International}}{{cite web|url=https://voi.id/en/sports/424290|title=Furious At The Leadership Of Referee Ahmed Al Kaf, PSSI Sends A Letter Of Protest To FIFA And AFC|website=VoI.id|date=11 October 2024}}
{{Blockquote|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.{{cite web|title=OFA strongly condemns unprovoked attack, use of threatening language on Omani international referee Ahmed Al Kaf|url=https://www.thearabianstories.com/2024/10/14/ofa-strongly-condemns-unprovoked-attack-use-of-threatening-language-on-omani-international-referee-ahmed-al-kaf/|website=The Arabian Stories|date=14 October 2024}}}}
The Oman Football Association would later condemn the "use of threatening and intimidating language" towards Al-Kaf by Indonesian fans,{{cite web|url=https://e.vnexpress.net/news/sports/football/oman-condemns-indonesian-fans-for-intimidating-referee-4804508.html|title=Oman condemns Indonesian fans for intimidating referee|last=Thu|first=Trung|date=15 October 2024|website=VnExpress International}} defending the Omani referee team while claiming that the association was looking into the incident with the relevant authorities.{{cite web|url=https://timesofoman.com/article/150940-ofa-condemns-threats-and-intimidation-against-omani-referee-ahmed-al-kaf|title=OFA condemns threats and intimidation against Omani referee Ahmed Al Kaf|author=Times News Service|date=14 October 2024|website=Times of Oman}} The Indonesian FA later requested the AFC to assign referees from neutral zones for the World Cup qualifiers.{{cite web|url=https://e.vnexpress.net/news/sports/football/indonesia-demands-change-in-referee-assignment-at-world-cup-qualifiers-after-controversial-bahrain-draw-4811953.html|title=Indonesia demands change in referee assignment at World Cup qualifiers after controversial Bahrain draw|date=4 November 2024|last=Thu|first=Trung|website=VnExpress International}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{Soccerway referee|ahmed-abu-bakar-said-al-kaf/329731}}
{{S-start}}
{{Succession box
| before = {{Flagicon|UZB}} Ravshan Irmatov
| after = {{Flagicon|UZB}} Valentin Kovalenko
| title = AFC Champions League Second-leg Final referee
| years = 2018
{{flagicon|OMN}} Ahmed Al-Kaf}}
{{S-end}}
{{2023 AFC Asian Cup referees}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Al-Kaf, Ahmed}}