Stunned Singapore players criticised the referee after they crashed out of the AFF Suzuki Cup with a 3-1 defeat to Malaysia in their final Group B match at their National Stadium on Saturday.
Al Kaf Ahmed Abu Bakar Said, from Oman, awarded a contentious penalty to Malaysia in injury time when the scores were locked 1-1. Malaysia scored from the spot kick in the 91st minute and added a third goal in the 94th as Singapore went for a late equaliser. Had the contest ended 1-1, Singapore would have progressed to the semifinals of the elite ASEAN tournament as the group runners up at the expense of Malaysia.
"We were controlling the game following our equaliser," Lions' captain Shahril Ishak told The New Paper. "Nothing had happened. Even the Malaysian players thought it was a goal-kick. We all saw the incident. But as players we could not argue against the decision."
In the first minute of added time, Singapore's Shakir Hamzah and Hafiz Abu Sujad rose in the air to defend a cross floated in by Malaysia's Zubir Azmi. Malaysia forward Amri Yahyah rose along with them to receive the cross. Yahya went to ground after a slight nudge from behind by substitute Hafiz and Abu Bakar Said pointed to the spot.
"I am not so sure what happened," Hafiz told The New Paper. "The ball came into the box, we challenged for it. It was 50-50. I thought it was a goal-kick. The Malaysia players thought it was one too. They weren't appealing for a penalty. It happened so fast. It was just so cruel."
Singapore coach Bernd Stange, unlike his players, refused to get drawn into the issue of the contentious decision. "In my view, it did not look like a penalty. I have to see the replay though and if that was not a penalty, then it would be a shame for such a good game of football."