Thailand's Elias Dolah hits out at referee after FIFA ASEAN Cup final loss as Anthony Hudson praises 10 men

Thailand defender Elias Dolah has criticised the referee who took charge of Monday's FIFA ASEAN Cup final, a day after the War Elephants lost to Indonesia on penalties in Jakarta. Head coach Anthony Hudson, by contrast, steered clear of blaming the officials and focused on his players' effort.

The final at the Gelora Bung Karno Stadium finished 2-2 after extra time, and Indonesia won the shootout 4-2 to become the first champions of the new FIFA tournament.

The red card at the centre of the row

The key moment came late in normal time, around the 80th minute, when Uzbek referee Ahrol Risqullaev showed a second yellow card to Thailand left-back Nicholas Mickelson for a foul on Indonesia's Ole Romeny. Thailand played the rest of the match, including all of extra time, with ten men.

Dolah, a centre-back, posted on Instagram after the game calling the referee "stupid", while still congratulating Indonesia, according to VnExpress International.

Risqullaev, 41, has held a FIFA licence since 2017 and has a reputation as a strict official. The Football Association of Thailand thanked players and fans after the final and said it welcomed constructive feedback, but it did not lodge a formal complaint about the refereeing, VnExpress reported.

Hudson proud of his players

Hudson, speaking after the match, said he was very proud of what his players had given. He pointed to the physical toll of playing 120 minutes with a man down and said the squad had shown real fighting spirit.

Asked about the shootout, the coach suggested there was no one to blame for the misses, describing penalties as something of a lottery, according to Indonesian outlet Detik.

Thailand missed two of their kicks. Sarach Yooyen hit the post, and Nattapong Sayriya was denied by Indonesia goalkeeper Emil Audero.

How the final unfolded

Indonesia, playing in front of a home crowd, levelled through Millwall defender Elkan Baggott in extra time to force penalties, after Thailand had threatened to win it despite their numerical disadvantage. Captain Kevin Diks of Borussia Monchengladbach led Indonesia, who held their nerve in the shootout.

For Thailand it was a painful end to a strong tournament. They reached the final as one of the region's most consistent teams and came within a shootout of the trophy.

Regional reaction

The final has divided opinion around Southeast Asia, with Thai fans unhappy about the red card and Indonesian supporters celebrating a home triumph. Malaysia, who finished third after beating Vietnam 1-0, drew 0-0 with Indonesia in the group stage at the same stadium.

The tournament is the first edition of FIFA's new ASEAN competition, played during an official international window. With the region's top sides all taking part, it is likely to be followed closely again when the next edition comes round.

Key takeaways

• Elias Dolah criticised referee Ahrol Risqullaev on Instagram after Thailand's final defeat.
• Nicholas Mickelson was sent off for a second booking around the 80th minute.
• Indonesia won 4-2 on penalties after a 2-2 draw over 120 minutes.
• Coach Anthony Hudson praised his players and did not blame the officials; the FA of Thailand made no formal complaint.

FAQ Who refereed the FIFA ASEAN Cup final? Uzbek referee Ahrol Risqullaev, who has been on the FIFA list since 2017. Why did Thailand play with ten men? Left-back Nicholas Mickelson was shown a second yellow card late in normal time for a foul on Ole Romeny. Who missed Thailand's penalties? Sarach Yooyen hit the post and Nattapong Sayriya's kick was saved by Emil Audero.

Sources: VnExpress International, Detik, Bulinews, Bernama