Indonesian football chief delegates away fan decisions to leagues, clubs, prioritizing safety

Erick Thohir, the Chairman of the Football Association of Indonesia (PSSI), has stated that the decision-making process regarding the presence of away fans in Indonesian football competitions rests entirely with the league operator and participating clubs. Thohir emphasized that any decision must prioritize safety to ensure that the tragic events at Kanjuruhan Stadium are never repeated.

The prohibition of away fans was a policy implemented after the Kanjuruhan Stadium disaster on October 1, 2022, where 135 people died and hundreds were injured following a match between Arema FC and Persebaya. This incident led to sanctions from FIFA and prompted a comprehensive overhaul of national football governance.

Thohir confirmed that PSSI has empowered the league and clubs to determine the mechanisms for handling away supporters, aligning with FIFA's recommendations for openness. However, he stressed the importance of considering the diverse fan dynamics across different regions in Indonesia. "We have told the league that the league, together with the clubs, can determine what the fan mechanism looks like," Thohir said on Friday in Jakarta.

He believes that the league and clubs are best positioned to understand the characteristics of their respective fan bases and make appropriate policies. Safety, he reiterated, must be the paramount consideration in all decisions to avoid endangering lives. "We don't want the Kanjuruhan incident to happen again. We must ensure supporters return home safely," he urged.

Thohir also warned that decisions neglecting safety could have repercussions for Indonesian football, potentially leading to future sanctions from FIFA. PSSI has fully delegated the authority for regulating away fans to the league and clubs, making them fully responsible for the consequences of their policies. "We have let go. It is up to the league and each club to manage the consequences of these policies," Thohir concluded.