In a dramatic turn of events, the Palestine Football Association (PFA) has filed an official complaint with FIFA and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) following a contentious late penalty that dashed their hopes of qualifying for the 2026 World Cup.
The controversial decision occurred during a crucial match against Oman on Tuesday, leaving Palestinian fans and officials reeling.
With Palestine holding a 1-0 lead deep into stoppage time, Iranian referee Mooud Bonyadifard awarded Oman a penalty in the seventh minute of injury time. Oman’s Issam Al Sabhi calmly converted the spot-kick, securing a 1-1 draw that propelled Oman into the next phase of World Cup qualifying while eliminating Palestine from contention.
The result has sparked widespread debate, with the PFA labeling the referee’s call as unjust.
In a strongly worded statement, the PFA declared, “Following a thorough review of the official match footage and various replays shared across media platforms and social networks, it has become evident the penalty decision lacked the necessary refereeing criteria and did not meet the technical standards required to justify such a call.”
The association described the decision as “clearly unfair” to the Palestinian national team and called for a comprehensive investigation into the incident. The PFA is also urging FIFA and the AFC to review refereeing procedures to uphold the integrity of international competitions and ensure sporting justice.
Neither Palestine nor Oman has ever qualified for a World Cup, making the stakes in this match particularly high. Oman now advances to the next stage, where they will compete in a three-nation group in October against two of Indonesia, Iraq, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, or the United Arab Emirates.
A victory in their section will secure Oman’s place among the 48 teams set to compete in the 2026 World Cup, hosted by Canada, the United States, and Mexico.
The PFA’s complaint has ignited discussions about refereeing standards in high-stakes international matches. As the football world awaits FIFA’s response, the incident serves as a reminder of the fine margins that can define a team’s World Cup dreams.