Jakarta. Youth Affairs and Sports Minister Dito Ariotedjo confirmed on Tuesday that world football governing body FIFA has decided not to move the venue of the second-leg World Cup qualifier between Indonesia and Bahrain.

Indonesia is scheduled to host the match on March 25 next year, following a 2-2 draw in Bahrain. Bahrain’s equalizing goal came after the official added time had expired, sparking controversy.

Indonesian football officials reportedly filed a protest with FIFA over the referee’s handling of the match, while online criticism poured in against the referee and the Bahrain team.

Meanwhile, the Bahrain Football Association requested FIFA to appoint a neutral venue for the second-leg, citing concerns over player safety due to the reactions from the previous game.

"FIFA has confirmed that the match will take place in Indonesia. Should [Bahrain fail to appear], Indonesia will be awarded victory by default," Dito was quoted by Antara news agency.

The minister assured that the Indonesian government will take all necessary measures to ensure the safety of the Bahrain team during the match, which will be held at Bung Karno Stadium in Jakarta.

"In response to Bahrain’s concerns over security in Indonesia, we guarantee there are no threats that would endanger the Bahrain team," Dito said.

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