John Herdman: Don't Bully the National Team Players, They Are Fighting for Indonesia

Indonesia national team coach John Herdman has spoken out in response to the widespread bullying of players on social media. He stressed that criticism that turns into personal attacks will not build the team, but only adds to the burden on players who are fighting for the Merah Putih.

Herdman is aware that public expectations for the Indonesia national team are very high. However, according to him, that pressure should not be an excuse to vent disappointment in an unhealthy way. He sees that the players take great pride in wearing the Garuda shirt and have given their maximum effort in every match.

"I see these boys giving their best. They try and they are very proud to represent Garuda," Herdman said in an interview with Liputan6 Sport.

The English coach also admitted he was surprised by the sheer scale of social media pressure faced by Indonesian players. According to him, the situation makes the responsibility of representing the national team feel even heavier. He also asked the public to give the team room to grow, considering that Indonesia is still in the process of building its football strength and cannot be equated with countries that have long dominated the world.

In the interview, Herdman also called on the media and influential parties not to amplify the culture of bullying. According to him, the majority of supporters who attend matches in person give tremendous support. The behavior of a handful of people in cyberspace, he stressed, should not reflect the face of all Indonesian football supporters.

He reminded that building a resilient team requires a long process and collective support. Instead of judging, the public is asked to focus on efforts to improve and give players the chance to keep learning. Herdman hopes constructive criticism will still be voiced, but in a way that does not hurt the players' mental state.

This case reflects the challenges facing Indonesian football, where high expectations often go hand in hand with psychological pressure. Herdman is committed to continuing to protect his players and create a conducive environment so they can perform optimally. He also called on all elements of society to unite in supporting the national team, rather than tearing it down.

Going forward, Herdman's stance is expected to mark a turning point toward a more mature supporter culture in Indonesia. Positive support, not bullying, is the key to taking Garuda higher. Can we be supporters who build, rather than destroy?