Timnas Indonesia head coach John Herdman defended midfielder Thom Haye after the player received a direct red card during a 0-0 draw against Malaysia at the FIFA ASEAN Cup 2026, describing the infraction as a necessary tactical foul. Haye was sent off in the 37th minute at the Stadion Utama Gelora Bung Karno on Monday, September 28, 2026, after making a challenge on Malaysian winger Arif Aiman.
John Herdman Defends Thom Haye After Red Card Against Malaysia
Speaking to media at the Stadion STIK in Jakarta on Wednesday, September 30, 2026, John Herdman stated that Thom Haye was deeply upset and felt a sense of guilt toward his teammates after leaving the squad with 10 players for the remainder of the match. “Ya, sulit. Maksud saya, Thom itu sangat bersemangat,” Herdman said, as reported by VIVA. “Dia memang orang yang penuh semangat dan begini, pada akhirnya dia melakukan pelanggaran teknis.” Herdman added that the opponent possessed a high-caliber winger, making the tactical intervention a necessary choice in that moment.
The English manager also addressed the Video Assistant Referee review that preceded the red card issued by referee Ko Hyung Jin. Herdman maintained that slow-motion video replays often distort the reality of fast-moving challenges. “Kaki dia hanya sedikit terlalu tinggi dan sekali lagi, begitu masuk ke VAR dan Anda memutar ulang rekaman itu, menghentikannya, memutar ulang lagi, dan menghentikannya lagi, itu selalu terlihat lebih buruk daripada aslinya,” Herdman explained, emphasizing that there was no malicious intent from Haye to injure Arif Aiman.
Group Standings and Thom Haye’s Absence Against Bangladesh
The disciplinary action forced Thom Haye to miss Indonesia’s final Group A fixture against Bangladesh, held at the Stadion Utama Gelora Bung Karno on Thursday, October 1, 2026, at 19.30 WIB, as detailed by Kompas. CNN Indonesia reported that the player served a mandatory one-match suspension under tournament regulations following his straight red card. Despite playing a man down for more than an hour against Malaysia, the scoreless draw allowed the Garuda squad to keep their qualification path open.
ANTARA News Megapolitan noted that while Haye’s absence in midfield presented a challenge for the coaching staff, Indonesia had previously shown the capability to rotate personnel, utilizing options such as Ragnar Oratmangoen, Joey Pellupessy, and Persija Jakarta midfielder Rayhan Hannan. Entering the final group matches, Malaysia led Group A with 4 points and a plus-three goal difference, while Indonesia also held 4 points with a plus-two goal difference after defeating Singapore in an earlier fixture.
/data/photo/2026/09/28/6aba8cf4a5709.jpeg "Photo: Kompas")
Haye Becomes Available for Final Against Thailand
MetroTVNews.com reported that under the official tournament guidelines for the FIFA ASEAN Cup 2026, players receiving a straight red card are suspended for the subsequent match, with potential for additional disciplinary measures from FIFA. Because Haye completed his one-match suspension during the encounter with Bangladesh—where Indonesia secured a dramatic 9-2 victory to finish ahead in goal difference—the midfielder became available for selection for the tournament final.
The final of the FIFA ASEAN Cup 2026 is scheduled for Monday, October 5, 2026, where Indonesia advances to face Thailand. The return of Thom Haye provides John Herdman with his primary creative engine in the middle of the pitch as the squad prepares for the championship match.
