No Football Match Is Worth Life
Sad news again came from Indonesian football. Again, there are victims again because of Indonesian football match. On June 17, 2022, during the match between Persib Bandung versus Persebaya Surabaya at the Gelora Lautan Api Stadium (GBLA) - West Java, there was chaos between supporters when they wanted to enter the stadium. As a result of the incident, two Persib Bandung supporters died because they were trampled when they were about to enter the stadium and dozens of people were injured. In total, there have been 78 people who have died because of football in Indonesia for various reasons, such as rioting with supporters, being crushed to death, or being hit by fireworks in the wrong position.
For your information, the President's Cup is currently underway in Indonesia, which is a pre-season tournament that is always held before the Indonesian football league takes place. Usually, football clubs in Europe will take advantage of the pre-season to play young players and restore the players' match fitness after the holidays. However, the tradition and understanding of pre-season in Indonesian football is very different. The fans, players, club owners take this tournament seriously and compete with a very high totality. The President's Cup is also the first moment for supporters to come back to the stadium to support their favorite club.
Many factors caused the incident at the Gelora Lautan Api Stadium. From the information I read and summarized, Gelora Lautan Api Stadium has a capacity of 35000 supporters. However, the organizing committee made the decision to only sell 15000 tickets because the stadium construction was not good and prevented things that were not desirable. Ticket sales were done online and sold out quickly, the match between Persib Bandung and Persebaya Surabaya was a big match that caught everyone's attention.
The organizing committee had a plan but some rogues looking for profit made the stadium situation that should be only half capacity full and exploded. It has become public information, some officers or committee members can be bribed to enter supporters into the stadium. This condition made the stadium very full of supporters and at the entrance, supporters who had official tickets were restrained and could not enter the stadium. This condition created chaos and a tragedy ensued which left two victims dead.
Football fans are unique, football fans are very fanatical, often act beyond reason and are willing to do anything for the football club they like. Because of this, hundreds of companies are willing to invest to be able to display their logos on soccer club jerseys. If we think about it, only football club fans want to wear clothes that feature a company logo like a jersey.
Everyone certainly hopes that a tragedy like this will not happen again, but if there is no firm action from the government. I believe and believe, tragedies like this will happen again in the future. Police and investigative teams must carry out investigations and assign suspects to those who sold “dark tickets” to supporters. In addition, sanctions against clubs and the organizing committee must also be firm. The bond between the club and the supporters is very strong, if the club is given a sanction maybe the supporters will act more wisely so as not to harm other clubs.
For many people, watching football is an awaited entertainment after going through the hectic life of work and life. For people watching live at the stadium is a spiritual and sacred activity. However, imagine when we come home from the stadium with a lifeless condition. We must have the same understanding, there is no single football match or victory that is comparable to human life.
Rest in Peace
Sopiana Yusup and Ahmad Solihin.
Call me Isdarmady, because I have a full name that is very long, namely Isdarmady Syahputra Ritonga. I am a head of the family who work as Farmers Vegetables Hydroponic and Consultant Hydroponics, sometimes I also sell coffee from various regions in Indonesia.
I have expertise dispensing coffee with a variety of techniques and tools brewing, because I have the desire to make a coffee shop with hydroponics as centerpieces. Help me realize that dream.
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