In Bahasa Indonesia, an own goal in soccer is referred to as “gol bunuh diri” (suicide goal). An incident in which one kid in Indonesia scored an own goal took a turn almost as dark as that term, which ended up with the child being sent to hospital.
A 12-year-old boy, identified by his initial T, from Kediri, East Java, is reportedly still recovering in a hospital after his teammates viciously beat him and kicked him in the testicles for scoring the aforementioned own goal on Thursday, January 18.
“When they were playing soccer, the victim scored an own goal which then made him a target for abuse by his teammates. Some hit him and some kicked him in the testicles,” said Kediri City head of Elementary Education Chevy Ning Suyudi, as quoted by Tribun on Saturday.
Not that there’s any justification for physical abuse over an own goal, but the incident reportedly occurred during a non-competitive soccer scrimmage during recess.
A few days after the incident, T began to complain that he was in a lot of pain. His parents took him to a hospital the following Tuesday. By Friday, T was transferred to an ICU as his condition worsened.
According to reports, T suffered some nerve damage and now has some unspecified issues with mobility.
The Kediri City Police said they have questioned five of T’s classmates in relation to the attack, but no suspects have been named so far. Teachers and the parents of the kids who attacked T have also apologized to T and his parents.
Under Indonesian law, school staff can be charged with neglect for allowing bullying in school, which punishments of up to 5 years in prison if the victim is seriously injured. Children under the age of 14 convicted of bullying cannot be sent to confinement and are usually required to attend counseling by social agency officers.
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