Indonesia’s top league suspended after fan dies

JAKARTA: Indonesia’s top footbal l league has been suspended indefinitely by the nation’s football association after a Persija Jakarta fan was killed by a mob of supporters of rival club Persib Bandung over the weekend, according to local media reports.

Indonesian Football Association ( PSSI) chairman Edy Rahmayadi t old the Jakarta Post on Tuesday that an investigation into the death of Persija fan Haringga Sirila had been launched.

“We have to make sure the diagnosis is correct before we take action,” Rahmayadi said.

“We have rules, there will be sanctions, starting from the lightest, like a reprimand, to a fine or even disqualification.”

Haringga, 23, was beaten to death by a mob near Bandung’s Gelora Bandung Lautan Api stadium short ly before the match on Sunday and a video of the killing circulated online, sparking national outrage.

Indonesia’s Youth and Sports Affairs Minister, Imam Nahrawi, backed a two-week stoppage to Liga 1 to allow the investigation to take place.

“This is a form of respect for victim and their families. This is also a form of national condolence and is a form of introspection. One l i fe is very expensive compared to football,” Nahrawi told the Antara News agency. “( Evaluation) starts today. After that we will take the next step.” — Reuters