Qatar’s controversial goal against India in World Cup qualifiers hints its growing grim influence on the game

The growing influence of Gulf countries on football can't be denied. Qatar's decisive goal against India has reignited concerns about potential manipulation.

Qatar’s controversial goal against India in World Cup qualifiers hints its growing grim influence on the game

Qatar head coach Marquez Lopez is looking on before the qualification 2nd round for the FIFA World Cup 2026 and AFC Asian Cup 2027 group A match between Qatar and India at Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium in Qatar (Image via IMAGO)

Ever since Qatar was announced in 2010 as the host of the 2022 World Cup beating the likes of Australia, South Korea, and Japan, fans and football conspiracy theorists have argued the involvement of foul play. It’s no secret that the nation of Qatar (Middle Eastern countries in general) began using sports to whitewash their maligned history.

Some theorists mark the sale of famous English Premier League side Manchester City to the Abu Dhabi-based consortium run by his highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, as the flagship event that opened doors. In the following years, the group spread its network to different leagues throughout the world, building an empire.

Qatar followed suit by becoming the first Middle Eastern nation to secure permission to host an event as big as the Football World Cup. Apart from that, the country has hosted the Asian Games in 2006 and AFC Asia Cup in 2011.

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One side will argue that the growing influence of the emirs has done wonders for sports while the others will point out that they are slowly trying to take over it. A learned football enthusiast would point out the ongoing fiasco between the City Group and the English Premier League itself.

Even though there have been 115 charges for breaching financial fair play regulations by the Manchester-based football club owners, they themselves argue that the Associated Party Transaction rules curated by the league are unlawful citing bias against ‘gulf ownership.’

The powershift is not only limited to club football but also to the International level. Let’s take, for instance, Tuesday night’s 2026 World Cup qualifier Group A game between Qatar’s National Team (ranked 32) and the India National Football Team (ranked 121).

What happened during the World Cup qualifier game between Qatar and India?

Indian football fans were optimistic about their chances to secure a spot in the greatest sporting event, the Football World Cup. That’s down to FIFA increasing the number of teams in the 2026 WC, from 32 to 48. It meant an additional 6 teams from Asia (a total of 18) would qualify.

Qatar's Controversial Goal against India in World Cup qualifiers hints its growing grim influence on the game
Youssef Ayman Farahat (2nd R) of Qatar celebrates with his teammate Ahmed Alrawi (2nd L) after scoring a goal during the qualification 2nd round for the FIFA World Cup 2026 and AFC Asian Cup 2027 (Image via IMAGO)

Besides Qatar, India was pitted against lower-ranked Kuwait and Afghanistan. On paper, it seemed India had a great chance to advance, but in reality, they only managed to win just one game before the pivotal game against the Qataris.

As Qatar was already in the driver’s seat with three wins, head coach Tintin Martinez rested starters, including Akram Afif and Jassem Gaber Abdulsallam.

On the other hand, it was India’s first match after their longtime captain Sunil Chetri announced his retirement from International football, ending his career as the fourth-highest goal scorer behind Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.

A semi-packed Jasam Bin Hamad Stadium in Doha witnessed the visitors India take the lead through Lallianzuala Chhangte in the 37th minute. Whether anyone hoped an upset was on the cards had guessed it wrong.

At the 73rd-minute mark, a floated ball inside the Indian box was met with Qatar’s Yousef Aymen who diverted the pass toward goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu. After the initial ricochet, the ball appeared to have crossed the touchline.

The Indian players stopped, hoping to see a flag from the linesman for a corner kick. However, the South Korean referee Kim Woo-Sung ruled the ball was in play and Aymen smashed the ball into an empty net. Goal. Qatar equalized the score to 1-1.

Indian football fans understandably outraged

FIFA had decreed that VAR (Video Assistant Referee) would not be used during the qualifiers and its absence certainly played a big part in giving Qatar an advantage.

Qatar's Controversial Goal against India in World Cup qualifiers hints its growing grim influence on the game
South Korean referee Kim Woo-Sung gestures during the during the qualification 2nd round for the FIFA World Cup 2026 and AFC Asian Cup 2027 (Image via IMAGO)

Despite the constant appeals from the Indian players, referee Woo-Sung decided to stick with his original decision. The goal wasn’t the only questionable moment from the referee. Rahul Bheke was shown a yellow card in the 90th minute even though he wasn’t even the one who committed a foul.

Qatar dealt the final blow as Ahmed Al-Rawi scored in the 85th minute to win the game and the Group.

While fans in big football nations like England and Germany want VAR removed (Sweden removed it in 2023) from the game, its availability could have made a big difference for the Indians.

After the game, Indian football team head coach Igor Stimac agreed that Aymen’s goal should not have been allowed.

I can confirm that now because I have seen the replay. The whole ball was out of play and the goal was given. It shouldn't be happening in today's football because that goal changed everything in this game. It could've happened to Qatar today and I would say the same. I'm not looking for an excuse.
Igor Stimac said per AIFF.com.

One bad decision dashed the hopes of 1.4 billion people and should be the headline but, even Stimac knows that if his boys played better in the previous games, then the Aymen’s ‘GHOST GOAL’ would not have mattered much.

It definitely pissed off a lot of fans who remain adamant that the referees dished out biased decisions against the Indian football team, resurfacing the bad influence of the Gulf nations on the sport.

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