FIFA to Investigate “Unusual Outcome” of Bahrain 10-0 Indonesia
Sometimes you can claim that “it just clicked”. We have all seen enough underdog sports movies to know that, when the chips are down, human beings are capable of pulling out a massive result. The team were pumped up, right? They caught fire. Everything they tried came off. They were blessed that day.
Sometimes, though, it all seems a little too convenient.
On Wednesday night the Asian World Cup Qualifiers were going on while everyone else buzzed and chattered about results that actually meant very little. These were no friendlies; these games meant qualification.
Iran had already qualified for the 2014 World Cup, but their opponents on Wednesday night, 2022 hosts Qatar, could have slipped out of the contest if they lost. However, for this to happen the team immediately behind them in the standing, Bahrain, had to vanquish Indonesia by at least 9 goals. Impossible, right?
Bahrain hammered Indonesia 10-0.
Understandably this sent a few alarm bells ringing at FIFA. Sometimes soccer throws up the rare shock result or the odd happy coincidence, but even if Bahrain were expected to win, 10 goals is more than just luck. They were either unplayable and brilliant or something was amiss. FIFA are duty bound to investigate the “unusual outcome”.
“Given the unusual outcome in relation to the results-expectation and head-to-head history, and in the interests of maintaining unequivocal confidence in our game, FIFA Security will conduct a routine examination of this game and its result,” a statement from FIFA said on Thursday.
There is certainly cause to question. The Indonesian goalkeeper was red carded after 2 minutes and Indonesia conceded 4 penalties during the contest.
There are perhaps reasons for Indonesia being so weak. Within their nation there is a splinter soccer league that operates out with the parameters of the national association and the established league. Star players from that rebel league have been banned from international competition.
However, according to Forbes, Indonesia are no strangers to allegations of corruption and writer James Corbett pointed out last year that FIFA have had to step in to question Indonesian soccer officials before.
The kicker and potential pain for any betting syndicates, if they had been involved in irregular betting? Bahrain got the result they needed, but because Qatar ended up drawing 2-2 with Iran anyway the Qatari side qualified, whilst free-scoring Bahrain are left without a visit to the World Cup in 2014.
All that effort for nothing…
