The world of Indonesian football has a history of fan disturbances, with one particular incident standing out on June 1, 1995. The match between Bandung Raya and Persija Jakarta at Siliwangi Stadium in Bandung descended into chaos, a notable event in the country’s football history.
The turmoil arose when the Persija players went on strike, sparking anger among the spectators who responded by throwing objects outside the stadium, even targeting the vehicle of Drs. H. Ukman Sutaryan, the Chairman of the PSSI West Java Regional Committee and Deputy Governor of West Java for Economic and Development Affairs.
According to the “Pikiran Rakyat” newspaper, the strike by the Persija players was prompted by a decision made by the referee, Drs. I Made Sudra from Denpasar. He awarded Bandung Raya an indirect free kick, ruling that M. Yunus, in a tussle with Peri Sandria, had committed a backpass with his foot, which was then caught by the Persija goalkeeper, Haryono.
The referee’s decision led to protests from all the Persija players, resulting in yellow cards being issued to Miro Baldo Bento and Rahmad Darmawan. Tensions escalated when substitute players from Persija, including Chairman Ir. Todung Barita, entered the field and gestured towards the referee. Security personnel had to intervene to contain the situation, but Persija coach Sugih Hindarto remained steadfast in their strike, leading to their withdrawal from the match.
This pivotal event had a lasting impact, as Persija faced continued hostility from the Bandung public in subsequent seasons, a sentiment that still lingers today.
The match, halted in the 68th minute, saw Bandung Raya emerge victorious with a 3-1 scoreline, with goals from Dejan Gluscevic (14th minute), Tibidi Alexis (21st minute), and Peri Sandria (43rd minute). Persija managed a consolation goal from Iskandar in the 54th minute.
In the aftermath, the PSSI Disciplinary Committee decided to increase Persija’s loss to a 1-5 score, deduct three points, and impose a fine of Rp 5 million.
The tumultuous events of the 1995 Persija Jakarta vs. Bandung Raya match serve as a reminder of the passion and fervor that football ignites, but also the need for composure and sportsmanship amidst heated moments.
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