A riot broke out among supporters during the Persija Jakarta vs Persib Bandung match at Manahan Stadium, Surakarta, Central Java, on Saturday, leaving at least seven injured, two of whom were rushed to the hospital in an unconscious condition.

Jarot Hermawan, a friend of the injured victims, said that he and his friends did not belong to either the Persija or Persib camp. He said they had just gone to the stadium to watch the game.

“But suddenly we were dragged and beaten. We could not defend ourselves and our friends were severely injured and rushed here,” Jarot, 24, said at the Brayat Hospital, where the two unconscious victims were treated.

The riot started as a group of supporters entered the tribune that was occupied by Persija Jakarta’s supporters — or Jakmania as they are popularly called.

Both groups were involved in heated arguments before the riot broke out, most probably because the newcomers were thought to be supporters of Persib although they were not wearing or carrying any Persib attributes.

Persib supporters were banned from coming to Surakarta, much less entering the stadium during the match, while Jakmanians were allowed to enter the stadium but were banned from showing their attributes.

Surakarta Police Chief Sr. Comr. Ahmad Lutfi said the riot broke out among fellow Persija’s supporters. He denied accusations that Persib supporters were among the crowd at the stadium.

“The tribune was mostly occupied by Jakmania members and the public. There was no Viking [Persib’s supporters],” said Lutfi, adding that it was a home match for Persija that Persib’s supporters were banned from attending.

“Persib will have the same turn. When it is Persib’s home match, Persija supporters will be banned from attending,” he said.

He said police and military personnel were able to take control of the riot and the match was able to proceed.

After the match, the police directly escorted Persija supporters to their 170 buses to transport them home. He added that Jakmania members should have left Surakarta at midnight at the latest on Saturday.

“None of them are left here. All have been sent home under police escort until the border of Central Java and West Java,” said Lutfi, adding that his side had coordinated with the West Java Police to continue escorting them until Jakarta.

The same tight police guard was also given to the players and officials of the Persib Bandung and Persija Jakarta soccer clubs. They were transported in six barracuda vehicles. Both clubs left Surakarta for Bandung, West Java, and Jakarta, respectively on Sunday afternoon.

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