Indonesia naturalized defender Jay Idzes faces criticism in Serie A for error

The Indonesian international started and played the full 90 minutes during Sassuolo's 2-1 victory over Cagliari in Italy's top-flight Serie A on April 4.

Despite the team securing three points, Idzes faced heavy criticism for a handball inside the penalty area, which resulted in a direct penalty for Cagliari.

This incident was not the first time the 25-year-old defender has committed a handball this season.

He previously made the same mistake during a 1-1 draw against Juventus on March 22.

Indonesia center-back Jay Idzes during a game for Sassuolo in the Serie A. Photo by Instagram/@jayidzes

Sassuolo News, a local outlet closely following the club, heavily criticized Idzes for the blunder. The newspaper gave him a poor 5 out of 10 match rating, specifically highlighting his repeated mistakes involving a handball in the box.

Despite the error, further statistics show that Idzes still made significant defensive contributions throughout the match. The center-back recorded six successful defensive actions, two tackles, four clearances and three ball recoveries.

Idzes has established himself as a key player for Sassuolo, appearing in 30 matches of the current Serie A season.

However, Italian media outlets suggest he must improve his concentration inside the penalty area to reach the next level of his career.

Earlier this year, his consistent form in the Serie A attracted serious attention from AC Milan and several other major European clubs.

Sassuolo spent big for the defender, reportedly paying around €8 million ($9.35 million) to sign him from Venezia during the summer 2025 transfer window.

Born in the Netherlands, Idzes decided to represent Indonesia at the international level in 2023 and became the captain. He is eligible through ancestral ties, with his grandfather born in Indonesia. Since then, he has made 18 appearances for the team, scoring one goal.