On March 5, the AFC officially announced that Jordanian referee Mark Hadmeh will referee the match between Shandong Taishan and Yokohama Mariners with his two assistants. The AFC Champions League quarterfinals will kick off at 18:00 on March 6 at the Jinan Olympic Sports Center Stadium, but this referee appointment has sparked heated debate among fans.
A look at Mark Hadmeh's enforcement resume suggests that he is more than capable of handling this crucial match.Born in 1986, Hadmeh is one of the mid-career referees that the AFC has focused on in recent years. Not only has he just finished enforcing the 2023 Asian Cup, but he has also officiated at international tournaments such as the 2019 Asian Cup and the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, and has been involved in 77 international matches so far.
It's worth mentioning that Hadmeh has a strong soccer connection with China. in 2013 and 2008, he was invited to enforce the Super Cup match between Shanghai Shenhua and the former Shanghai Dongya, which Shanghai Shenhua won 2:1. In addition, he enforced the AFC Champions League match between Shandong Taishan and Johor in 2019, which Shandong Taishan won 2:1.
However, why does such a referee cause concern among fans? It goes back to the recently concluded Asian Cup, where Qatar defended their title with a 3:0 victory over Jordan in the final on February 10th. The referee for the final was Chinese referee Ma Ning, and this was his first time standing on the stage of the Asian Cup final.
During the match, Manning awarded three penalties to Qatar, which seemed excessive but was generally recognized for its accuracy. However, the penalty displeased the Jordanian players, who protested Manning's call on the internet.
Therefore, when the Jordanian referee enforces the Chinese Super League team, many fans are worried that the referee will have a negative impact on the Taishan team due to his personal feelings.
Fans' concerns are rooted in love and concern for the team. But such worries may be superfluous. After all, the Asian Cup and the AFC Champions League are two very different tournaments, and national team and club matches cannot be generalized. There is reason to believe that the experienced Hadmeh will prove his professionalism with fair penalties and thus be recognized by the AFC. Meanwhile, the Taishan team has won fans' favor with its good style. As long as the team focuses on the game and does not actively make mistakes, it will not be afraid of third-party influences.
