PSSI East Java's Disciplinary Committee has imposed a lifetime ban on Putra Jaya Pasuruan player Muhammad Hilmi Gimnastiar for violent conduct against an opponent in a Liga 4 match. The club has also dismissed Hilmi and its social media admin amid public backlash. The incident caused serious injury to victim Firman Nugraha Ardhiansyah.
Muhammad Hilmi Gimnastiar, a player for Putra Jaya Pasuruan, has received a severe penalty from the Disciplinary Committee (Komdis) of PSSI East Java Province. A lifetime ban from football activities was imposed after Hilmi was found guilty of delivering a hard kick to the chest of Firman Nugraha Ardhiansyah, a player from Perseta 1970 Tulungagung, during the round of 32 Group C match in the Liga 4 Governor of East Java Cup 2025/2026 at Stadion Gelora Bangkalan on Monday (January 5, 2026).
The incident violated Article 48 in conjunction with Article 49 of the PSSI Disciplinary Code, resulting in serious injuries to Firman, including a cracked rib. Komdis also added a fine of Rp2.5 million under Article 78. Komdis Chairman Samiadji Makin Rahmat stated, “The act of kicking an opponent causing severe injury constitutes violence. Therefore, Komdis imposes an additional penalty of a lifetime ban from football activities.”
Makin emphasized the sanction's purpose as a warning: “This is football, not martial arts. We hope this decision serves as a lesson to prevent similar incidents.” The ruling can still be appealed.
Meanwhile, Putra Jaya Pasuruan club terminated Hilmi's contract on January 5 and dismissed the Instagram admin on January 6 due to a defensive post that sparked criticism. The club's statement read: “Official statement P.S. Putra Jaya Sumurwaru that the IG admin has been dismissed... We apologize profusely for this incident.” These steps aim to quell the controversy and uphold Indonesian football ethics.
