Saudi Referee Escapes Dangerous Assault After Fan Outrage in AFC Champions League 2

Saudi referee Majed Al-Shamrani endured a difficult night while officiating the AFC Champions League 2 Round of 16 second-leg match between Indonesia's Persib Bandung and their Thai visitors Ratchaburi on Wednesday evening.

The Indonesian team entered the match needing a "miracle" after losing the first leg 3-0 in Thailand. They were required to win by more than three goals to overturn the deficit. However, matters became more complicated in the 45+7th minute when Al-Shamrani showed a red card to a Persib player following a violent tackle. The hosts subsequently completed the match with ten men, ultimately securing an insufficient 1-0 victory, which was not enough to advance to the next round.

As the final whistle blew, the atmosphere of frustration escalated into chaos, with large numbers of Persib fans storming onto the pitch in a clear attempt to confront the refereeing team.

According to circulating reports, the fans directed their anger at the Saudi referee, believing his decisions, particularly the red card incident, were the direct cause of their team's elimination.

Social media users shared videos documenting the pitch invasion, showing repeated attempts to assault Al-Shamrani and his assistants, in scenes that sparked widespread controversy.

Amidst this tense situation, Al-Shamrani and his crew were forced to run off the field, narrowly managing to reach the tunnel leading to the changing rooms to avoid confrontation with the angry fans.

The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) is expected to launch an investigation into the incident, with severe penalties anticipated for the Indonesian club, potentially including heavy financial fines or playing matches behind closed doors.