In the fifth minute of second-half stoppage time, Nguyen Quoc Viet sprinted between Philippines center backs Noah Leddel and Jaime Rosquillo. As he neared the penalty area, Viet was fouled, preventing a one-on-one opportunity with the goalkeeper. Referee Jamal then showed a red card to Rosquillo, who wore the number 14 shirt.
However, the Malaysian referee made an error. Replays showed Leddel, wearing number 2, was the one who committed the foul by pulling Viet's arm.
After all three players fell to the ground, the referee approached. The television camera focused on Leddel, who appeared distraught as he awaited the decision. However, the referee showed the red card to Rosquillo. The 2003-born center-back seemed surprised but left the pitch. Leddel remained in the game.
The 2025 AFF U23 Championship does not use VAR. The referee's decisions on the field are final. However, the Philippines has the right to appeal to the ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) for correct player discipline.
The Philippines will play in the third-place match on 28/7 against the loser of the other semifinal between Indonesia and Thailand.
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Philippines U23 center-back Jaime Rosquillo leaves the field after receiving a straight red card. Screenshot |
Philippines U23 center-back Jaime Rosquillo leaves the field after receiving a straight red card. Screenshot
Such incidents occasionally happen in professional football. In a 2014 English Premier League match, referee Andre Marriner mistakenly sent off Arsenal's Kieran Gibbs instead of Oxlade-Chamberlain during a game against Chelsea.
Marriner later admitted his mistake. The Football Association (FA) rescinded Chamberlain's card but did not transfer it to Gibbs, as the foul was not deemed worthy of a dismissal.
A similar incident nearly occurred during the 2022 AFC U23 Asian Cup group stage in Uzbekistan. In the 78th minute of Vietnam's 1-1 draw with South Korea, a Vietnamese player was fouled outside the box. Referee Ahmad Alahi initially booked Lee Sang-min. After VAR intervention, the Kuwaiti referee rescinded Lee Sang-min's card and instead showed a second yellow, resulting in a red card, to Lee Jin-yong. South Korea then played with 10 men against Vietnam.
Hieu Luong
