Jakarta Casual

Footballers around the world are known for the ostentatious celebrations whenever they score a goal. Hell, some of the even practise them in training hoping they will get the opportunity to try them in front of their adoring legions of fans.

When PSS scored a goal against Persiba Bantul in their local derby yesterday afternoon their celebration was more subdued and more respectful.

They picked up a piece of A4 with a few hand written words showing a message of support for football fans in general who have died in recent days watching football and of course for the PSS fan who was killed in a brawl on the early hours of Sunday morning.

The message was simple and to the point. And all the more meaningful because it has not gone through the grubby mitts of a slick football club PR machine as it would do in England. Nay, scratch that. You would never see players in England do this. Clubs would not allow such an individual display of expression or sympathy.

Bill Shankly famously said football is more important than life or death. That was before Heysel and Hillsborough. Were he around today he would be quick to qualify those words.

'If football is more expensive than our soul then we choose to live without football #RIPFANSINDONESIA' 

Fans too showed their respect for the memory of their colleague with an impressive terrace display.



In an emotionally charged derby PSS won 2-1 in front of more than 21,000...the largest crowd in Indonesia. 

Labels: BSC, PSS, Sleman, Slemania