Sports Minister Suspends Liga 1 to Honor Death of Haringga Sirila

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Youth and Sports Minister Imam Nahrawi called for the national football competition Liga 1 to be suspended for two weeks in order to give time for authorities and stakeholders to definitively investigate the tragic death of a Persija supporter during a match on Sunday, September 23, at the Gelora Bandung Lautan Api (GBLA) stadium.

“This will be a tribute for the victim and the victim’s family. This should also act as a national mourning period and to further introspect. One life gone is too costly compared to football,” said Imam Nahrawi in his office today, Sept. 25. 

Read: Police Investigate Video of Violent Mob Killing Haringga Sirila 

He further hopes that the national two-week mourning could be fully utilized by the PSSI and PT Liga as the competition’s operator to highly enforce existing regulations. 

“Uphold the regulation. Don’t just hand out a fine. We will monitor for two weeks what would be done by the federation following the case,” Imam Nahrawi asserted. He also considers Haringga Sirila’s death to be a humanitarian tragedy.

Read: The Jakmania Appeals Not to Take Revenge over Haringga Incident 

“This case involves individuals that are under 20 years of age. This means that in the future, supporter club’s leaders and football federations must be a role model for the public,” said Nahrawi. 

Jakmania Haringga Sirila was tragically killed by a mob consisting of long-time rival team supporters during Sunday’s match between Persija Jakarta and Persib Bandung.

ANTARA