ASEAN Futsal Championship: Hector Souto Criticizes Refereeing as Indonesia Prepares for Semifinals

The Indonesian national futsal team has secured a place in the semifinals of the 2026 ASEAN Futsal Championship in Thailand. Despite achieving this goal, head coach Hector Souto has expressed significant concerns regarding the officiating and the physicality of the game as the tournament progresses.

Indonesia’s advancement to the semifinals followed a strong performance in Group B. The team recorded back-to-back victories, starting with a 7-0 win over Brunei Darussalam on April 6, 2026. This was followed by a 1-0 victory against Malaysia on April 7, 2026, with a decisive goal scored by Guntur Sulistyo Aribowo early in the second half.

Souto Criticizes Officiating and Gameplay

Following the group stage matches, Hector Souto has been vocal about the quality of the officiating and the nature of the play. The Spanish tactician criticized the performance of the referees ahead of the semifinal stage and suggested that the current style of the tournament has become overly physical.

In a critique of the tournament’s atmosphere, Souto remarked that the game should not resemble a different sport, stating Ini Bukan Rugbi (This is not rugby), highlighting his dissatisfaction with the level of contact and fouls permitted during the matches.

Souto’s frustrations extend beyond the officiating to his own squad’s execution. Despite the wins, he noted that Indonesia struggled with game control and missed opportunities from set pieces and positional attacks. He specifically pointed to a lack of player cohesion and a failure to manage the game’s closing seconds during the match against Malaysia, where a late shot handed possession back to the opponent.

Squad Evolution and Strategic Goals

The 2026 campaign has been characterized by a significant overhaul of the Indonesian roster. Souto entered the tournament with a refreshed squad, prioritizing the integration of new players to further the evolution of the national team. Only two players, Dewa Rizki and Yogi Saputra, were retained from the squad that reached the AFC Futsal Asian Cup final in February 2026.

Souto had initially set a realistic target of reaching the semifinals to allow new players to adapt to the system. While the team has met this objective, the coach emphasized that performance and development are more important than immediate results.

This philosophy is echoed by the players. Goalkeeper Muhammad Albagir stated that he is not concerned with individual accolades, such as being named the best goalkeeper of the tournament, asserting that he prefers Indonesia to win the championship over receiving personal honors.

Tournament Context and Path Forward

The 19th edition of the ASEAN Futsal Championship is taking place from April 5 to April 13, 2026, at the Central Stadium in Nonthaburi Province, Thailand. Indonesia enters the knockout stages as the defending champions, having won the 2024 title with a 2-0 victory over Vietnam in the final.

Indonesia’s recent trajectory as a regional powerhouse includes a gold medal at the 2025 SEA Games in Thailand and a runner-up finish in the 2026 AFC Futsal Asian Cup, where they lost to Iran in a penalty shootout on February 11, 2026.

As the tournament moves into the semifinals, Indonesia will face a challenging field. Thailand and Vietnam have also progressed to the semifinals, with Thailand edging Vietnam to take Group A. The outcome of the remaining group matches, including the clash between Indonesia and Australia, will determine the final seeding for the knockout phase.