League 1 competition suspended following fan's death

REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA — Indonesian Soccer Association (PSSI) has decided to stop League 1 competition until an unspecified time. Termination was meant to evaluate and investigate thoroughly the death case of Persija Jakarta supporter, Haringga Sirila.

The termination of the competition was decided on the PSSI Executive Committee (Exco) emergency forum in Jakarta on Tuesday (Sept 25). According to PSSI general chairman Edy Rahmayadi the decision was a form of their concern during periods of mourning.

“This is a form of our concern in a periods of mourning towards the deceased (Haringga)," said Edy.

Edy said League 1 would be temporarily stopped from the 24th week. The entire series of matches on Friday (Sept 21) and forward completely postponed.

Edy said PSSI had formed an independent investigation team regarding the death of Haringga. The team would work closely with many parties, including with PT Liga Indonesia Baru (LIB), Persib Bandung, Persija Jakarta, and the police.

Result of their investigation would determine sanction against Persib.  PSSI Disciplinary Commission (Komdis) as the internal court body of the national football competition would decide the form of sanction. However, Edy said Exco PSSI also has the right to give recommendations, starting from warnings and fines to reduction in standings and disqualification.

Before the PSSI announced the termination of the competition, the players who were members of the Association of Professional Footballers (APPI) expressed their stance to strike on the 24th week of League 1. In its statement, APPI condemned the deadly attack against Haringga.

Haringga was beaten to death near Gelora Bandung Lautan Api (GBLA) stadium in Bandung. He was punched, kicked, and some used tools to beat him. Hundreds of bystanders did not come to his aid.

In Haringga’s death case, there were eight suspects who arrested. They are Goni Abdulrahman (20), Aditya Anggara (19), Dadang Supriatna (19), SMR (17), DFA (16), Budiman (41), Cepy Gunawan (20), and Joko Susilo (31). They are charged under Article 170 Criminal Code (KUHP).

"Our position statement is a form of player's responsibility for the events that took place at GBLA," APPI chairman Ponaryo Astaman said.

APPI invited all captains and several players from 18 clubs in League 1 to made joint statement. Three club representatives who were absent, namely Medan PSMS, Persipura Jayapura, and Persib Bandung, agree to support APPI decision.

Some players who attended the statement of the strike strike attitude were Persija Jakarta players Bambang Pamungkas and Andritany Ardiyasa. In addition, there were Bayu Pradana from Mitra Kukar and Abduh Lestaluhu from PS Tira. Persebaya represented Ruben Sanadi and Rendi Irawan.

Persija Jakarta goalkeeper, who also APPI deputy chairperson, Andritany Ardiyasa, said that there were six things that became an affirmation of APPI members. In addition to the main strike, APPI asked all supporters of League 1 and League 2 clubs to make a peace note which was made a joint agreement.

The peace note, he said, was needed to ensure the end of the violence in football competition in the country. "We will continue our strike as long as the peace memorandum between supporters has not been realized," Andritany said.

Andritany said that the peace note between supporters in Indonesia was made a commitment together with PSSI and PT LIB as the party responsible for League 1 and League 2. Peace note would also be forwarded to the Ministry of Youth and Sports and the police to be used as proof of inter-peace supporters throughout Indonesia.

APPI also urged PSSI and PT LIB to give severe and fair penalties to those involved in the incident of the death of Haringga. Andritany said this is important to prevent the same incident happens in the future.

"This is important so that this incident does not happen again and gives a deterrent effect to all parties," Andritany said.

Meanwhile, President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has called on the joint commitment to prevent incidents such as the death of Haringga from recurring in the future. In the past eight months, 16 football supporters have died in a similar manner in the country, he noted, adding that it was a big number.

Jokowi has sent his deepest condolences to the family of Haringga.

"I conveyed my deepest condolences over the death of the supporter. Of course, 16 is a big number. Fanaticism must not be allowed to go too far to cause crimes. It must be stopped and upheld as a sporting spirit," he remarked on Tuesday.