Bandung:

More than a dozen people have been arrested after supporters of a rival team clubbed an Indonesian football fan to death with iron bars and planks, police said.

The deadly incident happened before a match between host club Persib Bandung and Persija Jakarta, bitter rivals in Indonesia’s top professional league.

Haringga Sirla, a 23-year-old Persija Jakarta fan, died after a group of Bandung supporters beat him outside the main stadium in the city of Bandung, 150 kilometres (93 miles) southeast of Jakarta.

Some 16 people had since been arrested in connection with the attack, police added.

It was the seventh death of a fan linked to a match between the two clubs since 2012, according to a football analyst.

The Indonesian football association expressed its “deep condolences”.

“We hope this kind of incident will not happen again in Indonesian football,” it said in a statement.

Sirla was the 70th Indonesian football fan to die in match-related violence since 1994, said an analyst.

“This keeps happening because of neglect” by authorities, it was stated.

“In the past there hasn’t been any firm punishment for violence and vandalism… it’s become a habit in Indonesian football.”

In July Indonesian fans hurled stones and bottles at the visiting Malaysia team after the home side lost their semi-final match in the AFF Cup Under-19 football match.

Football in Southeast Asia’s biggest nation has been racked by crisis for years, with an explosive row between the domestic association and government prompting FIFA to temporarily ban Indonesia from international competition in 2015. It was lifted last year.

Foreign players have also been badly treated by Indonesian clubs, with at least two known to have died after going unpaid and being unable to afford medical treatment.

Persib Bandung

Persib Bandung is a professional football club based in Bandung, Indonesia, and is one of the country’s most popular and successful teams. Founded in 1933 during the Dutch colonial era, the club has a storied history and a passionate fan base known as “Bobotoh.” Persib has won multiple Indonesian league titles and is renowned for its intense rivalry with Persija Jakarta.

Persija Jakarta

Persija Jakarta is a major Indonesian professional football club based in Jakarta, established in 1928 during the Dutch colonial era, making it one of the oldest clubs in the country. It is renowned for its intense rivalry with Persib Bandung, a match known as the ‘Indonesian Derby’. The club has a massive and passionate fan base, known as “The Jakmania,” and has won multiple Liga 1 titles.

Bandung

Bandung is the capital of West Java, Indonesia, famously known as the “Paris of Java” for its European-style architecture and vibrant arts and fashion scene. Historically, it gained international prominence as the host of the 1955 Asia-Africa Conference, a pivotal meeting for the Non-Aligned Movement during the Cold War.

Jakarta

Jakarta is the capital and largest city of Indonesia, located on the northwest coast of Java. Historically known as Batavia during the Dutch colonial era, it served as the capital of the Dutch East Indies and became the center for the spice trade. Today, it is a massive, bustling metropolis and the political, economic, and cultural heart of the nation.

Indonesian football association

The Football Association of Indonesia (PSSI) was founded on April 19, 1930, making it one of the oldest football governing bodies in Asia. It was established during the Dutch colonial era and has since been responsible for organizing the country’s national team and domestic leagues. The PSSI is a member of FIFA and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC).

FIFA

FIFA (Fédération Internationale de Football Association) is the international governing body for the sport of association football, futsal, and beach soccer. Founded in Paris in 1904 to oversee international competition, its history is marked by its organization of the World Cup, which has grown into the world’s most widely viewed sporting event.

AFF Cup Under-19

The AFF U-19 Youth Championship is an international football (soccer) tournament for men’s national teams under the age of 19, organized by the ASEAN Football Federation (AFF). It was established to develop young football talent within the Southeast Asian region and has been held biennially since its inception in 2002, with Thailand and Myanmar being among its most successful teams.

Southeast Asia

Southeast Asia is a diverse subregion of Asia comprising mainland and maritime nations, historically shaped by Indian, Chinese, Islamic, and Western colonial influences. It is home to significant cultural sites like Angkor Wat in Cambodia and Borobudur in Indonesia, which reflect its rich history of powerful kingdoms and complex trade networks. Today, it is known for its vibrant cultures, rapid economic development, and stunning natural landscapes.