Muhammad Hilmi Gimnastiar

Muhammad Hilmi Gimnastiar (born 15 March 2005) is an Indonesian former association football player who played as a midfielder for PS Putra Jaya Pasuruan. In January 2026, he received a lifetime ban from football after he committed a violent on-field assault during a Liga 4 match on Firman Nugraha, resulting in the latter sustaining fractured ribs, shortness of breath and seizures. Gimnastiar was also fined 2.5 million Indonesian Rupiah. The incident has been labelled the most brutal tackle in football history.

Career

Gimnastiar was born in Pasuruan, East Java on 15 March 2005. He grew up in the Sukorejo district. Gimnastiar began playing competitive football regionally and signed with PS Putra Jaya Pasuruan for the 2025–26 season, a club based in Pasuruan Regency competing in Liga 4, the fourth tier of Indonesian football.

2026 on-field assault and ban

On 5 January 2026, Gimnastiar was playing for PS Putra Jaya Pasuruan in a Liga 4 round of 32 match against Perseta 1970 Tulungagung, held at the Gelora Bangkalan Stadium in Bangkalan, Madura. By the second half, PS Putra Jaya Pasuruan was behind 4–0. In the 71st minute, Gimnastiar, without warning, sprinted up to Firman Nugraha, who was in possession of the ball, and delivered a kung-fu style kick into his chest. Gimnastiar immediately received a red card and was escorted from the field almost immediately. Several of PS Putra Jaya Pasuruan's players then had to hold back furious players of Perseta 1970 Tulungagung, who attempted to follow Gimnastiar off the pitch in an attempt to attack him.

Nugraha was subsequently rushed to RSUD Bangkalan hospital with broken ribs, where he was given oxygen, and also suffered from shortness of breath and seizures. Following the game, which ended 7–2 in Perseta 1970 Tulungagung's favour, PS Putra Jaya Pasuruan promptly terminated Gimnastiar's contract and issued an apology on his behalf. Perseta 1970 Tulungagung's manager Rudi Iswahyudi told the press that the club was preparing to bring the case to civil court and press charges. Gimnastiar received a lifetime ban from the East Java Football Association shortly after and was fined 2.5 million Indonesian Rupiah.

See also

• Violence in sports
• Liga 4