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Indonesian Students Express Sadness Over Football Tragedy

  • Writer: Tay Yee Shien
    Tay Yee Shien
  • Nov 8, 2022
  • 3 min read

“For those who were not causing the chaos but were affected, I hope they can forgive those who came down the field and caused the chaos,” said Irenia Jassmaine, an Indonesian student in Hong Kong.


At least 125 people were killed, and more than 320 were injured in the football stadium riot and stampede.

Source: Insider News


When local football team Arema FC lost 3-2 to bitter rival Persebaya Surabaya in October, fans of the former stormed the pitch to ask the players why they lost. It was the first time in 23 years that the team was defeated by its rival.


Nico Afinta, Indonesia’s East Java Police Chief, told reporters, “That’s when the security team moved in for prevention efforts so they won’t get onto the field or interact with the players. During the prevention effort, tear gas was fired because it had gotten anarchic. The fans were attacking officers and damaged cars.”

In a statement, Indonesia’s Football Association expressed its deepest condolences for what happened to football lovers in the country.

According to KOMPASTV, Indonesian President Joko Widodo has launched an investigation. He said, “I regret this tragedy, and I hope this is the last tragedy to occur in Indonesian football.


"We cannot have any more of this in the future. Sportsmanship, humanity, and brotherhood of the nation should be upheld together.”


According to the Indonesian Rights Commission, the police tear gas was the primary cause of the football tragedy.

Source: Al Jazeera


“I have a feeling of regret that this happened in my home country,” said Evelyn Megawati Tiffany, a student from Surabaya. She also mentioned that it was irrational for the fans to approach the players as they could not accept that their idols had lost the game.


Irenia shared a similar view. She said, "I don’t think what they did was right. Coming down the pitch was disrespectful towards the football players, and I don’t think it was safe for them as well."


Evelyn emphasised that there should be barriers between the players and the audience. “It was not just a fight, but they were approaching as a mass towards the players."


Those familiar with football said it was not the first time they had seen supporters running down the pitch. Taylor’s University student, Ivan Pradipa Junaidi, said that through his observation, fans storming the pitch seemed to be a part of football culture around the world.


“Pitch Invasion” is a term used to describe a person or a crowd spectating a sporting event running onto the competition area to celebrate or protest an incident or sometimes as a publicity stunt.


Football fan, Ryan Noor Fadhilla, another student at Taylor’s University shared his experience watching the sport on what the police usually do when a pitch invasion occurs. He said, “The police come down the pitch, spread out the crowd, and tell them to return to their seats.


"They push the people and also make a barricade.”


Ivan suggested, "Show aggressiveness, but not violence. The Indonesian police were very violent towards supporters and threw lots of tear gas. I think that’s where the police went wrong.”


Evelyn thinks that both parties have their faults, but she wished the authorities had known better. “The authorities had more power and obligation to protect the people. I think they should have been wiser and more tolerant towards the masses.”


Municipal workers removed burned vehicles from the soccer riots using a crane in Malang, East Java, Indonesia.

Source: AP Photo/Trisnadi


Irenia suggested that the Indonesian government implement policies to prevent supporters from entering the field. “Fine them or imprison them so that in the future no supporters will dare to come down the field knowing the consequences.”


Adindanissa Zikir, a PR and Marketing student at Taylor’s University, said, “My deep condolences to everyone who passed away and their families. It's such an awful tragedy that happened.”


Ivan said, "Things like this should never happen again. We can learn from this, and maybe the Indonesian police can reflect on how to control a riot, like when fans storm the pitch."


Ryan added, "We cannot blame everything on the police. As a spectator, we have to be responsible as well."


Evelyn concluded, "Compared to soccer or other things, human lives matter most, so I hope that through this incident, Indonesia can understand that we have to act more rationally, especially when it comes to the safety of the people."

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