Indonesia faced an early exit from the ASEAN Cup 2026 after a disappointing 1-1 draw against Singapore at Jalan Besar Stadium. This result placed Indonesia third in Group A with 7 points, behind Vietnam (10 points) and Singapore (8 points), both of whom advanced to the next round.

This marks Indonesia's second consecutive group stage exit from the Southeast Asian tournament. While the 2024 edition saw Indonesia field an U21 squad, this year's team had higher expectations with many quality players. However, it was not their strongest lineup, as European clubs did not release players of Dutch-Indonesian heritage for national duty.

Indonesia started impressively, securing a 5-1 victory over Cambodia and a 3-0 win against Timor Leste. However, a heavy 0-3 defeat to Vietnam preceded the crucial draw with Singapore. Frustration and anger erupted immediately from Indonesian fans at Jalan Besar Stadium following the match.

As coach John Herdman and the Indonesian team approached the stands to thank supporters, one fan shouted, "It's shameful, John." Midfielder Thom Haye immediately stepped forward to defend his teammates and coach. Haye believed that several referee decisions were detrimental to his team, stating, "Hey, don't you see what the referee did to us?"

Omani referee Abdullah Al-Amouri made several controversial decisions that angered the Indonesian side. The visiting team claimed he denied an early penalty when Michell Baker was fouled, did not card aggressive tackles from the home team, and consulted VAR before rescinding Song Ui-yong's second yellow card. Additionally, the refereeing team reportedly did not award Indonesia an indirect free kick after the Singaporean goalkeeper handled a backpass.

Indonesian forward Jens Raven (24) slaps Shayne Pattynama during an argument with fans at Jalan Besar Stadium.

Alongside Haye, Shayne Pattynama also confronted the fans. The defender exchanged heated words but was immediately stopped by his younger teammate Jens Raven. When Shayne raised his hand towards the fans and continued speaking, Jens pushed his hand away, grabbed his neck, and slapped his senior teammate to calm him.

Captain Rizky Ridho and goalkeeper Nadeo Argawinata proactively calmed their teammates, asking them to regroup and allow the fans to vent their frustration. One fan commented, "Don't blame the referee. I know it was a penalty. It was clear to everyone. But why did we only score one goal? Who is responsible for our failure to reach the semifinals?"

Another fan criticized Ridho, stating that the captain lacked composure throughout the match. This person said, "Why were you angry throughout the match? Why were you busy being angry with yourself? You lost due to your own mentality." The Indonesian players accepted all the criticism before leaving. Coach John Herdman also signaled an apology and placed his hand on his left chest, seeking understanding from the fans. The players then stood in a circle on the field.

On social media platform X, some Indonesian fans expressed disappointment and demanded Herdman's dismissal, while many others defended the team, arguing that the players gave their best on the field. User @Fuyoooh wrote, "Indonesians only know how to blame. The players tried; playing football isn't as easy as watching. The coach and players need time. Just wait and support. How many more coaches will they change?"

@KickOff60s stated, "Infuriating. After playing to exhaustion, players are criticized. They put in their best effort for the national colors, even accepting changing nationalities, yet they receive no support from their own compatriots. People only cheer for victories. It's truly ridiculous and regrettable."

Indonesia has yet to win the ASEAN Cup after 16 tournaments, finishing runners-up 6 times. Coach John Herdman's squad will now focus on the FIFA ASEAN Cup 2026 expanded tournament, hosted on home soil at the end of September.