Indonesian young talent unleashes kung-fu strike to defeat opponent, faces severe penalty

The Indonesian Football Association (PSSI) strongly condemns the action of U20 Indonesian national team player Fadly Alberto, who used "kung fu moves" to kick an opposing player after the match.

Secretary General PSSI, Yunus Nusi, has strongly condemned the dangerous "kung-fu" move by young player Fadly Alberto during a match in the Elite Pro Academy (EPA) U20 system. He confirmed that the Federation will immediately forward the case to the Disciplinary Committee (Komdis) for strict handling.

Moreover, PSSI Chairman Erick Thohir also expressed deep regret over the incident that tarnished Indonesian football's image. According to Yunus, this is an intolerable act, especially within the youth player development environment.

The incident occurred in the match between U20 Dewa United and U20 Bhayangkara FC in Semarang on April 19. Although Dewa United won 2-1, the focus shifted to the post-match chaos. As tensions escalated, Fadly Alberto suddenly delivered a kick from behind, hitting an opposing player's head. The victim was confirmed to have a dislocated shoulder, while Fadly left the scene immediately afterward.

PSSI also pointed out the responsibility of the referee team for not properly controlling the situation. Referee team representative Ogawa stated that the incident will be thoroughly reviewed, including assessment and disciplinary actions if there were errors from the "men in black."

It is noteworthy that Fadly Alberto was once considered a "rough gem" of Indonesian football. The player born in 2006 contributed to helping U17 Indonesia secure a spot in the 2025 U17 World Cup, even scoring in the historic victory over U17 Honduras. However, this impulsive act has overshadowed all previous positive impressions.

National Team Board Chairman Sumardji confirmed that Fadly was immediately removed from the U20 Indonesian team. Coach Nova Arianto also delivered a firm message, emphasizing that any unsportsmanlike behavior will not be tolerated.

PSSI simultaneously calls on young players and coaching staff to uphold fair play spirit and maintain composure under all circumstances. The Federation hopes this will be a costly lesson to prevent similar incidents from recurring in the future.