"Congratulations on winning with 14 players" – Indian supporters criticize Malaysian football for refereeing issues and poor ground conditions

Malaysia secured a resounding 4-2 victory over India in the 2023 Merdeka Tournament. But the match was marked by controversies stemming from questionable refereeing decisions and pitch conditions.

Malaysia took the lead in the 7th minute, but the Blue Tigers bounced back to net the equalizer just six minutes after the goal through Naorem Mahesh Singh.

As the game began to turn into an entertaining and end-to-end affair, the referee awarded a penalty for a slight nudge by Nikhil Poojary on Darren Lok, a decision that sparked controversy. Replays suggested that the incident would not have warranted a penalty in most cases.

The hosts took the lead from the penalty spot halfway through the first half, and just at the stroke of halftime, they crushed India’s hopes with a third goal.

However, Igor Stimac’s men displayed resilience in the second half, and their efforts were rewarded when Sunil Chhetri reduced the deficit, shifting the momentum in India’s favor.

However, the most controversial moment happened around the hour mark when India appeared to score. However, the goal was disallowed, much to the dismay of the Indian players and staff.

Lallianzuala Chhangte’s powerful strike seemed to have crossed the goal line before Dion Cools cleared the ball, leading to widespread disagreement over the referee’s decision.

Malaysia eventually scored the fourth goal late in the game to secure a 4-2 victory over India and qualify for the Merdeka Tournament final, where they will face Tajikistan on October 17.

In the aftermath of the game, Indian football supporters took to social media to express their frustration and criticize Malaysia, particularly the questionable officiating.

Despite their struggles in restricting Malaysia’s free-flowing attack, the Blue Tigers were on the wrong end of several refereeing decisions.

Here are a few of the reactions on social media platform 'X'.

The Secretary General of AIFF, Shaji Prabhakaran, also voiced his disappointment and expressed the belief that India had been deprived of a victory.

Supporters also raised concerns about the pitch conditions, highlighting the grass’ tendency to come up easily when players stepped on it. This issue affected players’ grip and increased the risk of injuries.

While India would have felt hard done by the result, their overall performance did not merit a victory, given their struggles against Malaysia’s high-pressing and counter-attacks.

These concerns are undoubtedly significant for Igor Stimac, considering the upcoming crucial 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers and the AFC Asian Cup.