An act of vandalism that occurred on the Pasopati Flyover or Mochtar Kusumaatmadja Road in Bandung City, ahead of the match against Persija Jakarta, has drawn public and law enforcement attention.
A widely circulated video on social media shows a group of young people making graffiti using orange spray paint on one of the overpass support pillars, with writing suspected to point to the identity of the Persija Jakarta club.
Although the graffiti has now been covered with black paint and is no longer visible, the incident has raised concerns about the potential for provocation amid rising tensions ahead of the major match to be held at the Gelora Bandung Lautan Api Stadium (GBLA) on Sunday.
The long-standing rivalry between Persib and Persija is often exploited by certain individuals to create public disturbances.
The Head of the Bandung City Civil Service Police Unit expressed deep concern over the action.
Vandalism is not merely a violation of city aesthetics but also has the potential to trigger horizontal conflict, especially among football supporters who are in an emotional state ahead of a big match.
He urged the public, especially Bobotoh (Persib supporters), not to be provoked by the graffiti, as such actions could be carried out by individuals deliberately wanting to stir up the atmosphere and provoke an excessive reaction from supporters.
“Bobotoh must not be provoked. We don’t know who wrote that; it could be a form of provocation or proxy war. I am very concerned,” he stated.
He said the act of vandalism clearly violates regional regulations because it damages public facilities which are shared assets.
The Pasopati Flyover is one of the icons and vital routes of Bandung City used by the public every day, so its condition must be protected from actions that harm the public interest.
“Public access like the Pasopati Flyover must be maintained cleanly. Such graffiti sets a bad example and damages the city’s image,” he said.
He ensured that the incident would be followed up by tracing the perpetrators of the vandalism.
Enforcement steps are taken not only to have a deterrent effect but also to maintain public safety and comfort, especially ahead of a match that attracts significant public attention.
In addition to enforcement, he stated that his unit has and will continue to coordinate with the Public Works and Water Resources Agency regarding physical handling at the incident location.
Coordination is carried out considering that the Pasopati Flyover is a national road asset whose condition must be maintained.
“We will coordinate with the relevant agency. The most important thing now is that the condition has been cleared and we are anticipating so it does not happen again,” he said.
Amid the vandalism issue, the atmosphere of El Clasico is heating up as the competition between the two teams tightens at the top of the Indonesian Super League standings.
Persib Bandung is currently in third place with 35 points, while Persija Jakarta is in second place with the same number of points, so this match is predicted to be fierce and full of prestige.
To ensure the match runs safely and conducively, the West Java Regional Police have taken over security for the Persib Bandung vs. Persija Jakarta match at GBLA Stadium.
The security takeover was carried out as an anticipatory step to minimize potential security disturbances, prevent clashes between supporters, and ensure the safety of players, officials, and spectators.
Security forces and local government hope all elements of society can exercise restraint and uphold sportsmanship.
The El Clasico match is hoped to be an event of entertainment and sporting achievement, not one that creates social problems damaging the image of football and Bandung City.
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