Indonesian experts: 'Vietnam, Thailand do nothing wrong'

"Indonesia was eliminated not because Vietnam and Thailand shook hands, but because we couldn't beat both teams," Marhali told the Republic on July 11. "AFF, Vietnam and Thailand have done nothing wrong. The team agreed to the rules of the game a few months before the start of the game."

Compared with previous years, U19 Southeast Asia 2022 has changed its competition system, taking the ranking of teams with the same points in the group stage as the standard. Rather than prioritizing goal difference against an entire group of opponents, the game puts the standard of confrontation between teams on points. According to Malhaly, since Indonesia is the host, they put forward this proposal themselves and got the consent of other teams. But after Indonesia was eliminated because of the rule, head coach Shin Tae-yong said: "I don't understand why AFF prioritizes confrontation standards, while FIFA and AFC prioritize goal difference."

Indonesia finished Group A with a goal difference of +15, while Vietnam +9 and Thailand +6. But Vietnam and Thailand just continued, as in counting the three teams' clash, they all scored against Indonesia. Malhaly believes the two teams know the rules of the game, so they don't want to throw in a lot of goals against weak teams like Brunei or the Philippines. "Vietnam and Thailand understand the intensive schedule, so they should choose a reasonable plan," Marhali added. "And Indonesia goes all out against Brunei, the Philippines and Myanmar without understanding the rules of the game."

Indonesian public opinion was furious that Vietnam and Thailand played only moderately in the last 10 minutes of the match, when the 1-1 score just put the two teams into the semi-finals. Vietnamese players only pass back and forth at the baseline, while Thai players are not close to scrabbling. According to Marhali, Indonesia will choose the same style of play if it enters Vietnam and Thailand. "We should look at ourselves and learn from experience rather than trying to blame," the experts stressed.

Coach Shin Tae-yong also posted that video on his personal Instagram account, with comments: "I want to ask football fans, whether such a stone has fair-play?".

A number of extremist Indonesian fans also arrived at the concentrated place of Vietnam and Thailand to raise banners to protest the two teams. In the semi -finals on July 13, Vietnam will meet Malaysia, while Thailand plays Laos, all on Patriot in Bekasi.