The Indonesian football landscape has a history of spectator unrest, with one particularly notable incident occurring on June 1, 1995, during the Bandung Raya versus Persija Jakarta match at the Siliwangi Stadium in Bandung. Tensions escalated due to a decision made by the players of Persija Jakarta, sparking a riot that spilled outside the stadium. The mob expressed their frustrations through the hurling of objects, some of which struck cars parked outside the stadium, including the vehicle of Drs. H. Ukman Sutaryan, the Chairman of the PSSI West Java Branch and Vice Governor of West Java for Economic and Development Affairs.
As reported by “Pikiran Rakyat,” the player strike was triggered by Referee Drs. I Made Sudra from Denpasar, who awarded Bandung Raya an indirect free kick, citing M. Yunus’ backpass caught by the Persija goalkeeper, Haryono. The referee’s decision sparked immediate protests from the entire Persija team, leading to yellow cards for Miro Baldo Bento and Rahmad Darmawan. The situation further escalated when substitute players from Persija, including Chairman Ir. Todung Barita, charged onto the field to confront the referee. Although security personnel eventually quelled the situation, Persija’s coach, Sugih Hindarto, declared a strike and withdrew the team from the match. This incident, known as a trigger, led to Persija facing ongoing cold reception from the Bandung public in subsequent seasons.
The halted match ended with Bandung Raya securing a 3-1 victory, resulting in Persija facing a 1-5 defeat, a deduction of three points, and a fine of Rp 5 million imposed by the PSSI Competition Committee. The events of that day not only marred the match between Bandung Raya and Persija Jakarta but also had long-lasting repercussions for Persija’s relationship with the public in Bandung. This incident serves as a stark reminder of the passion and intensity often associated with football in Indonesia.
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