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The October 2022 derby match in Malang, East
Java, between Arema FC and Persebaya Surabaya saw 135 spectators
killed, many crushed as they fled for exits after police fired
tear gas into the crowd. Home side Arema lost the match 3-2.
Although their next league meeting was due to be played behind
closed doors on Sunday, Dirmanto, a spokeperson for East Java
police, said it was deemed high risk as the clubs "have a
history of rivalry".
Yahya Alkatiri, manager of home side Persebaya said the game was
due to be held in nearby Gresik, but police permission to host
it was denied. They could not play in Surabaya because of
ongoing stadium upgrades for the Under-20 World Cup in May.
"This was a match fraught with risks," Yahya told Reuters,
adding scuffles could happen outside the stadium.
Indonesian soccer has long been blighted by problems, including
match-fixing scandals and crowd trouble between rival
supporters, which has resulted in some matches being played
behind closed doors.
At another game in Central Java last month, police used tear gas
to stop fans from forcibly entering a stadium during a
closed-doors derby match.
Investigators concluded the main cause of the crush that killed
135 people last year was excessive and indiscriminate use of
tear gas, which world governing body FIFA bans as a crowd
control measure.
(Reporting by Stanley Widianto and Ananda Teresia; Editing by
Martin Petty)
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