Disputed Refereeing Decision Prompts Exit and Final Match Boycott
Herat | By Noor Mohammad Farzam
The Abumoslem Farah under-14 team has withdrawn from an ongoing football tournament in Herat, citing Protests over officiating decisions and alleged bias in match management.
The decision follows a controversial incident during their third match against Sarrafan FC. With the score at 2–1 in favor of Sarrafan during stoppage time, the referee initially awarded a penalty to Abumoslem Farah. However, the decision was reversed moments later following intervention by the fourth official, triggering strong protests from the Farah-based side.
Team officials and players subsequently left the field in Protest, describing the reversal as unjust and indicative of broader concerns regarding fairness in the competition.
As a result, Abumoslem Farah has announced it will not participate in the tournament’s final match against the representative team of Ghor province.
Disputes over refereeing standards and administrative oversight have frequently emerged in provincial football competitions in Afghanistan, raising ongoing concerns about governance, transparency, and the credibility of match organization.