India vs Qatar: Why wasn't VAR used and who were the match officials involved in scandal vs INDIA?

Qatar defeated India 2-1 in their World Cup qualifier match yesterday. Despite Lallianzuala Chhangte's 37th-minute goal for India, Qatar turned the game around with goals from Yousef Aymen in the 73rd minute and Ahmed Al-Rawi in the 85th minute, and the goals were nothing short of controversial. The statistics showed Qatar with 18 shots and 56% possession, compared to India with 9 shots and 44% possession. The match, staged at the Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium, saw Qatar defeat India to preserve their lead in Second Round Group A. In a disgraceful decision that has enraged football fans, the referee permitted Qatar's contentious equaliser against India despite the ball obviously going out of play. This occurrence happened in the second half of the contest.

Also Read: India vs Qatar: AIFF to lodge formal complaint against scandalous goal

Why was VAR not used in ‌Qatar’s controversial goal vs India in the FIFA World Cup Qualifiers second round? 

Needing a victory to get to the third round of FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifying for the first time in history, India played Qatar away. Lallianzuala Chhangte led early, but a contentious equaliser from Qatar caused controversy to surround the game.

Yousef Aymen scored for Qatar under controversial conditions in the 73rd minute. Once goalie Gurpreet Singh Sandhu saved an Aymen header, Indian players concluded the ball was out of play. But the whistle never went, and Al Hassan, a defender for Qatar, recovered the ball and handed it to Aymen, who scored from close quarters.

The Indian players angrily objected, claiming that it was obvious the ball was out of play. Officials of the game gave Qatar the goal in spite of their protests. The lineman was conferred with by South Korean referee Kim Woo-sung, who then maintained his first ruling.

The disputed goal was uncontested by VAR in the second round of FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifying because the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system was not in place. It is strange because Qatar hosted the FIFA World Cup 2022, and the VAR was absent in a FIFA World Cup qualifier match 2 years later. 

Who were the match officials that allowed Qatar’s controversial goal against India? 

The match between India and Qatar was officiated by South Korean Kim Woo-Sung. Woo-Sung is said to be an experienced referee in the K-League, the premier football league in South Korea. He supervised a World Cup qualifying match between Hong Kong and Uzbekistan in March. Additionally, he has officiated AFC Cup qualifying playoffs and group-stage games.

Half of the six-person officiating crew was made up of South Korean nationals, who made up the majority of the officials. Iran, Syria, and the Kyrgyz Republic accounted for the remaining officials.

Following is the list of match officials:

Referee: Kim Woo-Sung (KOR)

Assistant referee 1: Kang Dong Ho (KOR)

Assistant referee 2: Cheon Jin Hee (KOR)

Fourth Official: Abdyldaev Daiyrbek (KGZ)

Match Commissioner: Hamed Momeni (IRN)

Referee Assessor: Basel Al Hajjar (SYR)