Kungfu League, Brutal Kick in League 4 Damages the Image of Indonesian Football

FAJAR.CO.ID, JAKARTA — The disgraceful action that occurred in one of the East Java League 4 matches seemed to have hurt the image of Indonesian football.

Footballer Muhammad Hilmi Gimnastiar was in the spotlight after showing an unsupportive action of kicking an opponent in the chest.

This action was carried out by Hilmi when his Putra Jaya Pasuruan team faced Perseta 1970 Tulungagung in the last 32 of the East Java League 4 CC group.

In a video that has been widely circulating on social media, Hilmi can be seen jumping and kicking Perseta player Firman Nugraha in the chest when the match entered the 71st minute.

The action, which was carried out at the Gelora Bangkalan Stadium, caused Firman Nugraha, who had been kicked in the chest, to lie down in the middle of the field.

Firman is said to be receiving medical treatment due to the incident.

The result of this match, Perseta 1970 Tulungagung vs Putra Jaya Pasuruan, ended with a 7-2 win for Perseta.

Not long after the incident, the club announced that it would impose sanctions on Hilmi Gimnastiar.

Through an announcement on their official Instagram account, @ps.putrajaya, the club from Pasuruan explained that they had fired Hilmi from the squad.

“Due to the incident… which caused the Perseta 1970 player to be injured, you have decided to terminate your working relationship with our players,” wrote the decision letter signed by Putra Jaya Daily Chairman, Gaung Andaka Ranggi.

Putra Jaya management revealed that Hilmi was considered to have violated the principles of Fair Play when he kicked a Perseta player in the chest.