Ex-Tanjong Pagar United footballer, 20, punches 2 players after game, gets 15-month probation

A former player for Tanjong Pagar United Football Club was sentenced on Jan. 6 to 15 months' probation for punching two players from the opposing team after a match.

During the 15 months, Rizqin Aniq Bin Rahaizad, 20, will have to perform 70 hours of community service, stay indoors from 10pm to 6am daily, and attend intervention for violent offending, if assessed necessary.

Additionally, his parents were bonded for S$5,000 to ensure his good behaviour during the probation period.

The incident occurred on Feb. 10, 2025, after an under-21 match between Tanjong Pagar United and Albirex Niigata, which the former won 3-2.

As both teams lined up for their post-game handshake, Rizqin Aniq punched an 18-year-old Albirex player in the face.

He later also hit another Albirex player who tried to intervene, 21-year-old Kenji Austin Ho, according to court documents seen by Mothership.

Previously in November 2025, he pleaded guilty and was convicted of one count of voluntarily causing hurt, while a second charge was taken into consideration.

Since Mar. 6, 2025, he had been banned from all Football Association of Singapore (FAS)-sanctioned tournaments and matches for 30 months, and was fined S$2,000.

A heated match

Investigations revealed that the match, attended by between 100 and 200 people at Jurong East Stadium, was a heated one where both teams played rough in the second half.

After Tanjong Pagar United took the lead, players from both teams began shoving and taunting each other.

At one point, the 18-year-old victim shouted "happy or not" and uttered vulgarities at a Tanjong Pagar United player who blocked his goal attempt.

Rizqin Aniq reported it to the referee, who de-escalated the situation.

But he still remembered it during the post-game handshake, when he said "happy or not" back to the victim before landing a punch on his mouth.

The hit caused pain around the victim's teeth, and slight bleeding at his mouth area.

Ho, along with other players and coaches from both teams, intervened and tried to separate Rizqin Aniq from the first victim.

The commotion subsided for a while after Rizqin Aniq was brought off the pitch to cool down.

Then, he ran back onto the pitch and punched Ho on the left side of his face, leaving him unconscious on the ground for about a minute.

When his teammates attempted to pull him away, Rizqin Aniq again tried to run back.

He was later arrested and released on bail that same day.

Resulted in panic attacks

Ho was in a state of confusion when he awoke on the pitch, and was conveyed conscious to the hospital, where he got treated for a concussion.

Although he was soon discharged from the hospital, Ho later began suffering panic attacks as a result of Rizqin Aniq's actions.

He had episodes lasting up to 10 minutes where he was short of breath, and felt tension and fear.

In April 2025, Ho was diagosed with mild post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and panic disorder.

Probation

Rizqin Aniq's 15-month probation will be split into three intensive months and 12 supervised months of probation.

The prosecution said in court that it had no objections to probation being imposed, CNA reported.

Rizqin was assessed to have a low risk of offending and had demonstrated discipline and an adherence to rules.

He is now undergoing National Service, according to CNA.

Top images from TMSG and Tanjong Pagar United's Facebook