Indonesian footballer Pieter Rumaropen has been banned for life by the country's football authority after punching a referee in the face during a Super League game at the weekend.
Rumaropen's Persiwa Wamena were tied 1-1 with Pelita Bandung Raya when referee Muhaimin awarded a penalty to Pelita with eight minutes left on the clock.
Cut outrage from the Persiwa players, not least Rumaropen, who strode up to the referee and sucker punched him in the nose with an unseen left hook.
The referee had blood all over his shirt as a result, and he was transported to the hospital where he received four stitches and treatment for the excessive bleeding.
The game was halted for 15 minutes before a replacement official took over and gave Rumaropen a red card.
Persiwa lost 2-1 after their opponents converted the penalty, and now Rumaropen has been told he will never play professional football in his homeland again.
"This was a terrible act that we cannot tolerate," said Hinca Panjaitan, head of the disciplinary committee of the Indonesian Football Association (PSSI).
"It has tarnished the image of Indonesian football in the international community, I hope this punishment will repair that."
 | |
| Pieter Rumaropen lands a swinging left hook which catches the referee by surprise Photo: AFP |
Rumaropen's Persiwa Wamena were tied 1-1 with Pelita Bandung Raya when referee Muhaimin awarded a penalty to Pelita with eight minutes left on the clock.
Cut outrage from the Persiwa players, not least Rumaropen, who strode up to the referee and sucker punched him in the nose with an unseen left hook.
The referee had blood all over his shirt as a result, and he was transported to the hospital where he received four stitches and treatment for the excessive bleeding.
The game was halted for 15 minutes before a replacement official took over and gave Rumaropen a red card.
Persiwa lost 2-1 after their opponents converted the penalty, and now Rumaropen has been told he will never play professional football in his homeland again.
"This was a terrible act that we cannot tolerate," said Hinca Panjaitan, head of the disciplinary committee of the Indonesian Football Association (PSSI).
"It has tarnished the image of Indonesian football in the international community, I hope this punishment will repair that."
