FIFA launched an investigation on Thursday into the “unusual outcome” of Bahrain’s 10-0 victory over a weakened Indonesia team in a World Cup qualifying match.

Bahrain’s win on Wednesday raised suspicion because the Gulf nation needed to make up a nine-goal deficit on neighbouring Qatar in the group standings to have a chance of advancing to the next round.

Bahrain also needed the Qataris to lose their last match, but they scored an 83rd-minute equaliser in a 2-2 draw at Iran to instead reach the next stage of the Asian qualifying tournament.

“FIFA security will conduct a routine examination of this game and its result,” football’s world governing body said in a statement.

FIFA insisted an initial probe was justified “given the unusual outcome against results expectation and head-to-head history, and in the interests of maintaining unequivocal confidence in our game.”

“The important thing is that if there are suspicions you have to investigate it,” FIFA Vice President Prince Ali said during a trip to London. “It might just be a coincidence, however there might be something behind it.”

Warning about the threat posed by match-fixers, the Asian Football Confederation executive said that “many times you see those involved are a step ahead.”

On Wednesday, Indonesia goalkeeper Samsidar was sent off after just two minutes and Bahrain took the lead from the resulting penalty. The hosts also scored a second penalty in the first half as they took a 4-0 lead by halftime, and continued to pour in goals after the break.

Indonesia had lost all five previous group matches, conceding 16 goals while scoring just three.

The Indonesians also fielded several inexperienced players in Bahrain after suspending others who play for clubs in the breakaway Indonesian Super League.