Indonesian fans attack Myanmar player online over ASEAN Cup foul

The incident occurred in the fifth minute of injury time during the first half when midfielder Ferdinan was fouled by a Myanmar player while dribbling down the right flank. Hein then kicked the ball with power towards Marselino, resulting in a scuffle between players from both teams.

Marselino was visibly in pain, holding his head, while Hein received a yellow card from referee Wong Wai Lun. After consulting VAR, the Hong Kong referee upheld his decision, but Indonesian fans were not satisfied with the call, feeling that Hein deserved a red card for his action.

The backlash quickly moved to social media, where Indonesian fans flooded Hein’s Instagram account with over 8,000 comments, despite the account having only about 4,600 followers. The harsh criticism prompted the 26-year-old defender player to disable comments on his account.

Myanmar's center-back Hein Phyo Win. Photo by MFF

One user commented with anger: "You are so unprofessional," while another added: "You should have received a red card."

A user even threatened the defender to "Hurry up and apologize or your account will disappear."

Many others called for the ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) to impose a penalty on Hein for what they perceived as unsportsmanlike behavior.

The match, held at Thuwunna Stadium in Yangon, Myanmar, saw the hosts play rough in the first half. In addition to Hein, his teammates Maung Maung Lwin and Wai Lin Aung were also warned for dangerous tackles.

Indonesia, with their young squad, had 57% possession and 17 shots compared to Myanmar's 12. The hosts also squandered chances to score, including a missed opportunity in front of goal and a shot that hit the bar.

In the 76th minute, a trademark strong throw-in by Pratama Arhan caused chaos in Myanmar's penalty area. Asnawi Mangkualam quickly finished on the rebound and his shot hit the bar before deflecting off goalkeeper Zin Nyi Nyi Aung into the net, securing Indonesia's 1-0 victory.

In the second round of Group B on Thursday, Myanmar will visit the Philippines, while Indonesia will return home to host Laos.