Indonesia suspends national football tournament after fan beaten to death

The incident happened on September 23 before the match betweenPersib Bandung and Persija Jakarta in the Indonesian league. The victims areHaringga Sirla, 23 years old, fan ofPersia Jakarta.Haringga was attacked by a group of fans ofPersib Bandung beaten to death with iron pipes and wooden sticks right outside the stadiumBandung Lautan Api, away from the capitalJakarta 150km to the south.

According to the Indonesian police, 16 people were arrested for investigation. Immediately after the incident, the Indonesian Football Federation (PSSI) issued a statement expressing regret and sharing the loss of the victim's family: "We hope that similar incidents will not happen again in Indonesian football."

Haringga Sirla is the 70th person to die in connection with a football match in Indonesia since 1994. In the match between Persib Bandung and Persija Jakarta alone, seven fans of the two teams have died in clashes over the past six years.

On September 25, PSSI President Edy Rahmayadi said that the Indonesian championship was suspended while authorities investigated the incident. "We need clear evidence before making a decision. We operate according to the rules, there will be penalties, from warnings, to fines or even disqualification from the tournament," Mr. Edy Rahmayadi told the media.

Indonesian Youth and Sports Minister Imam Nahrawi also supported the suspension of the tournament. "This is a way to show respect for the victims and their families. It is also a form of national condolence after the tragedy. Human life is always more important than football," said Imam Nahrawi.