The government had previously suspended Indonesia’s domestic soccer league after the Kanjuruhan tragedy on Oct.1, which resulted in the deaths of more than 130 spectators, most of whom died during a stampede caused by the unwarranted-use of tear gas by police officers.

Although the country’s domestic league, Liga 1, had previously resumed without spectators, authorities are now ready to welcome fans back into the stands.

Around 54,600 people, or 70 percent of the total 78,000 capacity of Jakarta’s flagship Gelora Bung Karno Stadium, will be allowed to spectate Indonesia’s men soccer team kicking-off its ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) Cup campaign by hosting Cambodia on Friday afternoon.

“During this ‘trial’ phase, we will maintain a 70 percent [stadium capacity],” National Police chief Listyo Sigit Prabowo said during an inspection to the GBK stadium on Tuesday, as quoted by Kompas. 

Listyo went on to say that the National Police will be stationing between 1,300 to 1,400 of its personnel to secure Friday’s match, albeit the number might rise if the police’s risk assessment calls for it.

These officers, Listyo went on to say, will be stationed outside of the stadium and they have been instructed not to carry fire-arms or tear gas canisters.

“Inside [the stadium] there will only be stewards, while the police remain outside. The police can enter [the stadium] only if there is a request from the organizers or the security inspector," he added. 

These policies are part of the police’s new regulation on securing sports matches, which was based on the recommendations proposed by a government-sanctioned fact-finding team that investigated the causes of the Kanjuruhan incident’s high death toll.

Read also: Doubts remain over new police sports policy 

The new police regulation, accessed by The Jakarta Post through the Law and Human Rights Ministry’s website, detailed a number of pre-match security measures, including inspections of the stadiums, safety-risk assessments and new procedures for match organizers in applying for a permit.

In addition, the regulation also emphasizes that police officers are instructed only to assist match stewards and that they should prioritize preemptive actions, including warnings and identifying potential threats, in maintaining the safety of the stadium.

World Cup ambitions

Also during Tuesday’s inspection, Youth and Sports Minister Zainudin Amali said Friday’s match would be an opportunity for authorities to try out its new sporting policies, in preparation for Indonesia’s hosting of the U-20 World Cup in May next year. The Kanjuruhan incident had previously caused Indonesia’s status as host into contention. But FIFA president Gianni Infantino quashed those concerns during his visit to the country in October.

“During my recent meeting with [Infantino] in Doha, he asked us to ensure that Indonesia is prepared [to host the U20 World Cup] way in advance. As such, my inspection [of the GBK stadium] is to ensure that,” Zainudin said.

 

While the new police regulations might be a step forward in Indonesia’s policing of soccer matches, observers said the problem often lied in the fact that officers on the field often did not understand what they needed to do.

“As with Kanjuruhan, these officers do not know that FIFA has actually banned the use of tear-gas in matches. They can do so outside of matches, since our laws allow it, but not within a stadium,” Anton Sanjoyo, a member of the fact-finding team investigating the Kanjuruhan incident, said on Thursday.

Anton, who is also a senior sports journalist, said Friday’s match would test whether or not the police chief, along with the sports minister and the Soccer Association of Indonesia (PSSI) have managed to disseminate these new rules properly. 

“Even if the match goes well, they should analyze what aspects to improve [...] Having [the match] in GBK stadium, one of the best in the country, definitely helps [...] but we can’t draw a conclusion from just one match” he added.

Read also: Police's tear gas at Kanjuruhan leads to death: Amnesty