The Bandung Supporters Alliance urged Soccer Association of Indonesia (PSSI) boss Edy Rahmayadi to choose between his position as North Sumatra governor and PSSI chairman.
bout 400 supporters of the Persib Bandung soccer club lit candles and laid wreaths in remembrance of victims of soccer violence at Cikapayang Park in Bandung, West Java, on Thursday.
They lit the candles in front of victims’ pictures, which included Haringga Sirila who was allegedly killed by Persib supporters in Bandung on Sunday. Haringga, who was a Persija Jakarta fan, was beaten to death because his ID showed that he was from Jakarta.
The Bandung Supporters Alliance (BSA), which initiated the event, erected a black banner with the names of all the people who have been killed since 1995. There were 67 names listed on the banner, with the last one being Haringga’s.
BSA spokesperson Andhika Ramadhan Radiana said the event was held to tell fans, not just those of Persib and Persija, that rivalry between clubs was a necessary part of the game, but not at the expense of lives.
“Don’t let rivalry lead to death because soccer is not more valuable than lives.”
Andhika said the latest tragedy should serve as a momentum to spark a revolution at the Soccer Association of Indonesia (PSSI).
He urged current PSSI chairman Edy Rahmayadi, who is also the new North Sumatra governor, to decide who he wanted to be. “Does he want to be the PSSI chairman or North Sumatra governor? An executive of the association should be able to focus on the game.”
Hundreds of soccer fans at the park sang the national anthem and yelled “Stop violence in soccer” afterwards.
The BSA is the umbrella body of several Persib fan clubs like the Ultras and Casual. It is not affiliated to the Viking Persib Club or Bomber, which has more members. (evi)
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