Jakarta Casual

Sadly, Indonesia is used to fan misbehaviour at football. Often, it doesn't involve rival supporters but sees fans invading the pitch and attacking players and/or match officials. The authorities do nothing beyond mealy-mouth platitudes like 'I hope it doesn't happen again' - Indonesia's version of Americans sending prayers after another school shooting. Soundbites replace any meaningful action.

There always seems to be an excuse for kicking off as those involved or those who approve of their actions seek to deflect blame elsewhere. They climbed the fence. They jumped onto the running track. They ran onto the pitch. But it's the ref's fault!

When it happens domestically, no one really cares. No one beyond the borders takes any notice unless there are casualties so it's easily brushed under the carpet.

But when it happens in a high-profile competition featuring a team from overseas, then that does attract attention and that is what happened recently when Persib fans invaded the pitch at the end of their AFC Champions League tie with Ratchaburi. 

Persib won the game 1-0 but lost 3-1 on aggregate to the Thai side. Some fans however, felt the ref was unfairly biased to the visiting side, so they wanted to get at him. Dunno why - in preparing this piece, I looked into how many times a ref had changed the result because of angry supporters. It's zero. Nada. It doesn't happen. 

Watching the scenes unfold, you can't help but wonder. How are the invaders able to get on the pitch so easily? Where's the police? Where's the security? And why the hell are Persib coach Bojan Hodak and some of the players trying to calm the situation?

This is where things start to get complicated. Indonesians tend not to trust security officials at the best of times, and the events at Kanjuruhan a few years back, where cops fired teargas at supporters and more than 100 died, are still fresh in people's memory.  Anti-government demonstrations frequently attract large crowds, even though people do die. The photo above comes from a game in Jakarta where fans attacked the police.

More recently, a local punk band got into hot water with officials after releasing a song that suggested a lack of trust in security - they later issued an apology.

These domestic concerns won't interest the AFC or the Ratchaburi players who are left with pretty traumatic memories of their short time in Bandung. Persib can expect some punishment to be handed down by the AFC over the incident and a reprimand which is likely to hit them in the pocket. Hard.

Against that backdrop, what can Indonesian football do to ensure player and official safety at games and on the pitch? Looking for solutions from other countries isn't helpful. In England, for example, the football atmosphere has been regulated, legislated and priced out of existence. I can't see membership schemes, increased ticket prices and banning orders being introduced in Indonesia and even if they were - sanctions are only as good as enforcement and let's face it, even the most bellicose, flag-waving nationalist will admit most stewards aren't any good!

While the scenes of fans leaping around like extras from The Football Factory embarrassed many, it's worth bearing in mind that there were only a few of them. I've been at games where hundreds, nay thousands, have been quick to run on the pitch. 

Were those in Bandung from isolated fan groups? Are they known to the greater Bobotoh community? If they are, then perhaps the club could work with them to impress on the miscreants that their actions damage not just their football club but their country.

You could try banning them, but given what I've written earlier, do you reckon security would refuse to let them in the ground? Reporting to a local police station on match day? 

It seems obvious the government and the PSSI aren't really interested so any action, any change needs to come from the clubs.

One possible solution would be a uniquely Indonesian way. If they are identified, the club, fan groups and local religious leaders and these youths could be brought together and have the error of their ways explained to them legally and spiritually. There is a precedent for religious scholars getting involved - a fatwa was needed to stop the violence that regularly occurred at or near Benteng Stadium in Tangerang between rival Persikota and Persita fans.

Once upon a time I would have made some pithy comment about how nice it would have been for the Thai team to play in a stadium with a proper atmosphere. But seeing the Persib coach leading efforts to defuse the situation, if I was Indonesian, and half my family is, I would have felt embarrassed. Embarrassed there was no-one prepared to stop those kids from even climbing the fence, letting alone getting on the pitch.

# posted by Me @ 8:38 PM