Indonesian issues lifetime bans on 2 football players following violence during matches

The punishment followed two horrific incidents in Liga 4 matches that occurred in January. During a match between Universitas Ahmad Dahlan (UAD) and Kampungqu Football Indonesia (KAFI) on Jan. 8, Dwi Pilihanto Nugroho kicked Amirul Mutaqin directly in the head in the 78th minute.

While the referee initially issued a yellow card, Mutaqin was hospitalized with severe jaw pain and had to undergo an X-ray scan. The results showed no broken bones, but Mutaqin still felt pain when speaking and chewing, requiring further monitoring for 6-7 days and possibly a CT scan if the condition did not improve.

Subsequent investigations by the PSSI Disciplinary Committee led to Nugroho being banned from all football activities and immediately dismissed by his club.

“Hopefully, this incident will serve as a lesson for all players and those involved in the Indonesian football scene, and will prevent a repeat in the future,” KAFI manager Muhammad Hasanudin said, as quoted by CNN Indonesia.

Just three days prior, another violent encounter occurred during the match between Putra Jaya and Perseta 1970 Tulungagung in Liga 4. Muhammad Hilmi Gimnastiar of Putra Jaya launched a “kung-fu-style” kick into the chest of Firman Nugraha Adhiansyah, beIN SPORTS reported.

The East Java Football Association (PSSI Jatim) responded by imposing a lifetime ban on Gimnastiar and a 2.5 million rupiah (US$148) fine. Like KAFI, Putra Jaya immediately terminated the Gimnastiar’s contract.

These consecutive acts of violence have sparked debates about the declining standards of discipline and sportsmanship in Indonesian football. Observers warn that the increasing frequency of violent tackles suggests the spirit of the game is being lost. Without drastic measures, the prestige and development of the sport in Indonesia will continue to be hampered.