27-year-old Indonesian soccer player Akli Fairuz died from injuries after he was mercilessly tackled by goalkeeper Agus Rahman, writes the New York Post.
The match was in an Indonesian Premier League between Persiraja Banda Aceh and PSAP Sigli on May 10, 2014. A long kick from a Persiraja player led the ball just in front of Rahman. The ball bounced off Rahman's chest and toward Akil Fairuz. Fairuz and two other PSAP Sigli players raced for the ball opposite Rahman.
A video showed that Fairuz got to the ball first and when he attempted to rebound, Rahman kicked Fairuz straight into his abdomen with the spikes moving into the latter's midsection. Fairuz successfully kicked the ball into the net but the referee did not count the goal. A fight ensued between the two teams as a result. Fairuz was immediately substituted after and he spent the rest of the game watching while sitting on a bench, according to NESN.
Watch video below.
Until the end of the game, Fairuz appeared well despite the vicious kick. He was subsequently admitted and diagnosed at a hospital where it was found that he suffered from internal injuries due to the kick by Rahman. A rupture was discovered in his intestine, which caused his health to rapidly deteriorate. On May 16, 2014, six days after the incident, Fairuz died, in a report by Deadspin.
Several Indonesian soccer fans as well as the family and friends of Fairu mourned his passing. His family was interviewed about their reaction to the play. Members of the team were also asked about the incident and how they would handle the matter and avoid similar circumstances in the future.
It is still uncertain how the team and authorities would handle the situation and deal with Rahman. According to Mahfudin Nigara of the Indonesian Football Association, "We are investigating the case, but there's a suspicion that treatment of his injury on the pitch might have been too slow."