The
All India Football Federation
(AIFF) has requested an inquiry into the disputed goal granted to Qatar during their pivotal FIFA World Cup qualifying game in Doha, according to
AIFF
President Kalyan Chaubey's statement on Wednesday. Chaubey called upon the relevant authorities to "address the injustice" and rectify the situation.
The AIFF president stated that India has demanded a comprehensive investigation into the goal that was permitted by South Korean referee Kim Woo-Sung, despite clear evidence of the ball going out of play.
The incident occurred during the crucial match at Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium on Tuesday, which India ultimately lost 1-2.
"Victory and defeat are part and parcel of the game, we have learned to accept gracefully, although one of the two goals scored against India yesterday night left a few questions unanswered," Chaubey said in a statement.
The controversial goal ignited a firestorm of criticism and anger, as it shattered India's aspirations of progressing to the third round of the
FIFA World Cup Qualifiers
for the first time in their history. The 2026 edition of the tournament would have marked a significant milestone for Indian football, but the contentious decision left the team and its supporters devastated.
"We have written to FIFA Head of Qualifiers, AFC Head of Referees, and the match commissioner, regarding the grave supervision error that practically cost us a place in the FIFA World Cup Qualifiers Round 3.
"Given it's severity, we call upon concerned officials for a thorough investigation. We have urged them to explore the possibilities of sporting compensation to address the injustice and we trust that FIFA and AFC will take necessary steps," he added.
Hamed Momeni from Iran served as the match commissioner for the game, responsible for overseeing the match organization and ensuring compliance with FIFA regulations throughout the contest.
During the 73rd minute, Abdullah Alahrak took a free-kick, which Yousef Ayem attempted to head towards the goal. India's captain and goalkeeper, Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, managed to save the header.
However, as Sandhu lay on the ground watching the ball cross the line, Hashmi Hussein kicked it back into play, allowing Aymen to score.
The ball had clearly gone out of play, and the game should have been stopped and restarted with a corner-kick, as Sandhu was the last player to touch the ball before it went out of bounds.
Despite the Indian players' strong protests, the referee awarded the goal to Qatar and maintained his decision, much to the frustration of the visiting team.
According to FIFA rules, "the ball is out of play if it is wholly passed over the goal line or touchline on the ground or in the air."
Igor Stimac, the coach of the Indian national team, conveyed his disappointment following the match. He believed that the team's aspirations were shattered by a goal that he deemed "irregular."
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