Jakarta Casual

Some time back I posted something about average attendances in the Thai Premier League.

Many people seem to get excited about Thai football and in one respect it's easy to see why. Buriram United had an excellent run in the AFC Champions League while Muang Thong United remain one of the better run clubs in the region.

And both benefit from wealthy backers.

But beyond the big two there is very little and something that does get overlooked is the overtly political nature of football ownership in Thailand. Do some research and find out who backs Buriram and Suphanburi and you will be less surprised why they get bigger crowds.

Quite simply the political dynasties in their respective provinces have been used to getting people out to vote. Filling a football stadium will be chicken feed.

Compare the TPL attendances with those in the Indonesia Super League so assiduously compiled by Pramuaji Ajay.

The average attendances in Indonesia are about 50% higher than Thailand and there is every reason to believe if 2014 goes fluently (it won't of course) those figure would be much higher.

Persija, for example, last season played a grand total of seven home games in front of their fans at the Bung Karno Stadium. Out of a possible 17!

And next season sees the return of Persebaya to the top flight with their huge support while Persiba Bantul are known to have a fairly healthy following as well.

The largest attendance in the ISL in the 2013 was 40,002 between Arema and Sriwijaya.

Indonesian football has history and tradition behind it of course while Thai football was only invented in 2009.