In politics, it is common for voters to root for the underdog as they side with candidates who are subjected to what could be perceived as unjust treatment from the incumbent.

Part of the reason behind Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono’s success in the 2004 presidential election was his ability to capitalize on his image as a minister who had been treated unfairly by then-president Megawati Soekarnoputri.

The comparison was not lost on Jakartans during the gubernatorial election last year when they voted for Anies Baswedan, who ran only months after being unceremoniously sacked from his position as culture and education minister in President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo’s Cabinet.

Over the weekend, an incident on the sidelines of a soccer tournament at the Gelora Bung Karno (GBK) sports complex again highlighted Anies’ underdog status.

It started when Anies was prevented by a member of the Presidential Security Detail (Paspampres) from joining Jokowi during a post-game ceremony on the pitch of GBK stadium on Saturday night.

The organizer of the event had not included Anies in the list of guests who would join Jokowi in presenting the President’s Cup trophy. Among the high-ranking officials who were included are Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs Minister Wiranto, and Youth and Sports Minister Imam Nahrawi.

Observers have pointed out that despite Anies’ absence on the list, as Jakarta governor who oversees the Persija soccer club, he should have been allowed to join Jokowi for the occasion.

Persija beat Bali United 3-0 in the finals.

Netizens were quick to question the organizers’ decision to bar Anies from entering the pitch by showing 2015 photos of then-Jakarta governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama with Jokowi as he congratulated Persib Bandung players, who had just defeated Palembang-based Sriwijaya FC in the President’s Cup finals.

Many also claimed that Persija’s victory had helped Anies’ standing among the capital’s young soccer fans.

Anies took the snub lightly and later joined Persija players and fans on the pitch to celebrate the victory. In a speech delivered to thousands of Persija fans who rallied around the city to celebrate the victory, he pledged to work on a plan to construct a new stadium for the club.

Persija’s home base in Lebak Bulus, South Jakarta, was torn down to make way for construction of the MRT project initiated by Jokowi.

“Anies will earn more sympathy as the public saw him being treated unfairly, especially because the committee failed to provide a convincing reason for why he was barred from joining the President,” said Hendri Satrio, a political observer from Jakarta-based Paramadina University.

The State Palace issued a statement on the matter on Sunday, saying that no instructions had been given to prohibit the governor from entering the pitch.

The decision to name the guests invited to the stage was solely in the hands of the committee, Bey Machmudi, deputy for the Presidential Press, Media and Information Secretariat, said in the statement.

Maruarar Siarit, head of the President’s Cup steering committee and a member of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), which backs the President, issued an apology at a press briefing on Monday, saying that he had made the mistake of failing to understand the proper presidential protocol.

“Anies should have been on stage,” Maruarar said. “Don’t blame the Paspampres [officer] as he was only doing his duty. It’s 100 percent my fault,” he said.

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