Indonesia's U-16 futsal team secured a dramatic victory over Thailand in the 2025 AFF U-16 Futsal Cup final, but a rough play incident drew widespread attention. An Indonesian player was thrown to the floor after being pulled aggressively by an opponent, going viral on social media. The Indonesian coach sharply criticized the referee's decisions.
The final of the 2025 AFF U-16 Futsal Cup between Indonesia's U-16 team and Thailand unfolded intensely at Nonthaburi Hall on Monday, December 29, 2025. While Indonesia clinched the championship in a dramatic win, the joy was overshadowed by several instances of rough play from the home team players. The most striking incident occurred toward the end of the second half, as Muhammad Ibnu Alan of Indonesia controlled the ball on the sideline.
Thai player Mandonphol applied tight pressure that escalated into pulling Ibnu Alan's body, sending him crashing to the floor. The action quickly became a focal point and spread widely across social media platforms, sparking public backlash. The FIFA referee officiating the match issued only a yellow card for the foul, which many deemed too lenient.
Indonesia's U-16 futsal coach, Hector Souto, openly criticized the refereeing after the match. He highlighted how repeated aggressive plays throughout the game had endangered his players. Nonetheless, the victory marks a historic achievement for Indonesia's youth futsal in the Southeast Asian regional tournament, amid the high tensions that defined the final.
