Pemain Sleman Timur FA Yardan Akhsani Taqwa Meninggal Usai Benturan

Yardan Akhsani Taqwa died at age 14 on Wednesday after an 11-day hospital stay following an on-field collision during a youth match in Sleman, Yogyakarta, Indonesia.

Kabar duka menyelimuti sepak bola Sleman, Daerah Istimewa Yogyakarta, according to CNN Indonesia.

The incident occurred on October 31, 2026, when Yardan, a striker for Sleman Timur FA, collided with the opposing goalkeeper from Kepek Raya during a Junior Premier League Zona DIY U-14 match at Maguwoharjo Football Park.

“Sehingga terjadi tabrakan antara dengkul dengan ulu hatinya mas Yardan [almarhum]. Sehingga waktu itu langsung jatuh. Tidak, saat itu juga tidak bisa meneruskan pertandingan,” Pramusetyo, chairman of Sleman Timur FA, said, describing the impact as a reflexive collision where the goalkeeper's knee struck Yardan in the solar plexus, causing the player to fall immediately and leave the match.

“Di situlah terjadi tabrakan, yang sebetulnya tabrakan itu juga, menurut saya sebagai kacamata orang manajemen sepak bola, itu sebetulnya refleks dari gerakan kiper,” Pramusetyo said, adding that the knee-to-chest impact rendered the player unable to continue.

Club officials transported Yardan independently to RS Hermina because tournament organizers failed to provide a stretcher, medical personnel, or an ambulance at the venue, Pramusetyo said. Initial examinations at RS Hermina revealed a mass in the player’s internal organs, prompting a transfer to RSUP dr Sardjito, where doctors diagnosed him with a liver hemorrhage.

During 11 days of intensive care, Yardan underwent three surgeries and required more than 70 blood bags, according to Pramusetyo. It was noted that daily blood requirements reached at least 10 bags, while total blood consumption reached 80 bags, all fulfilled.

Pramusetyo said that the collision contained no intentional wrongdoing and that the club had reported the incident to PSSI Sleman. “Yang kami sayangkan yang pertama, apakah tidak siap pada saat pelaksanaan kejuaraan ini? Karena beberapa sumber menyampaikan bahwa salah satunya adalah tim kesehatan itu tidak ada di tempat, khususnya terkait dengan kesiapan ambulans,” Nolik Maryono, vice chairman II of KONI DIY, said, criticizing the absence of medical staff and ambulances at the venue, pointing to regulations under Law Number 11 of 2022 on Sports requiring safety standards and police recommendations for sports events.

KONI DIY also reminded all sports event organizers to comply with applicable provisions, including regulations in Law Number 11 of 2022 on Sports.

tvOneNews reported that Patrick Kluivert and national team players including Justin Hubner, Thom Haye, and Ole Romeny posted tributes on Instagram following Yardan’s death. “R.I.P,” Patrick Kluivert wrote on the Instagram account of Rising Ballers on Friday, November 13, 2026. The tragedy followed a similar fatal collision in Spanish football, where CD Tenerife player Jesús de Miguel Alameda died on November 3, 2026, after colliding with FC Andorra goalkeeper Jesus Owono.

Yardan was buried on Thursday, November 12, 2026. Pramusetyo said that the player’s family accepted the outcome and did not plan to pursue legal action against any party.