Singapore referee faces online attacks

Singapore referee Sukhbir Singh has become the target of online vitriol from Afghanistan fans after the final of the SAFF Championship.

The 28-year-old was in charge of the final match between hosts India and Afghanistan, in which he sent off the visitors’ goalkeeper Hameedullah Yousufzari with 25 minutes of play left and the score tied at 0-0.

Yousufzari was given his marching orders for pushing Singh while protesting the referee’s decision to award a penalty to India after an infringement by Fasial Safa. The hosts converted the spot-kick and went on to win 4-0.

Having dominated the match until the incident in question, Afghanistan coach Yousef Kargar did not mince his words after the defeat.

He was quoted as accusing Singh of ‘killing the game’, while he questioned the referee’s allegiance and his religious affiliation.

“The referee was against us. I don’t know whether he is a Sikh or a Hindu, and hence supported the opposition,” Kargar said.

Singh, who has been officiating in Singapore for at least two years, was most recently nominated for the Referee of the Year award at the 2011 S.League Awards.

Infuriated Afghanistan fans have, however, followed Kargar’s accusation and started five different Facebook groups in condemnation of the Singapore referee.

Totalling more than 600 ‘likes’ in total, the comments have been particularly hostile, with most echoing Kargar’s sentiments, while Singh’s Facebook profile has also been published.

A petition started on human rights site, Change.org, has also drawn over 300 signatures.

FIFA has responded to feedback from Afghanistan supporters, saying: “FIFA does not comment on individual referee performance or specific match scenes.”

The statement then went on to ask fans to understand that ‘to err is also human’ and to lend their support to match officials.

The Football Association of Singapore have already stated their intention to report Kargar to the Asian Football Confederation for his comments.