Analyst Discusses Flare Phenomenon in the Super League, Between Tradition and Regulatory Breaches

The flare ignitions occurred at a number of matches in round 33 of the 2025-2026 Super League. From Kediri, Solo, Bali to Parepare, the stadium terraces were filled with red flames that burned as the final whistle sounded. The phenomenon occurred fairly evenly across different stadiums, whether the home team won, drew, or lost. National football analyst Akmal Marhali says that the flare ignitions at the end of the season are part of Indonesian football fans’ enthusiasm for the competition being held, and may also be a form of tradition. ‘Yes, this is part of our enthusiasm for the competition that is staged, and perhaps also as a form of tradition,’ he told Kompas.com. ‘Football has very unique and interesting traditions, each with its own characteristics. So if many clubs at the end of the season burn flares, that is part of one of the traditions practiced by their supporters,’ he added. The phenomenon shows that Indonesian football is not only about matches on the pitch, but also about the emotional bond between fans and their clubs. ‘Although I do not encourage it, that is the expression of supporters’ affection for Indonesian football,’ he said about flare lighting. Behind the flare-lit terraces filling the stadium, the analyst—who is also the coordinator of Save Our Soccer—sees a message supporters want to send to the federation and competition organizers. He argues that the actions are not merely celebrations, but also an implicit critique of the conditions of Indonesian football that still require substantial reform. ‘It can also be a moral message that next season there are many things that must be corrected and improved in our football competition system, both regulation-wise and otherwise,’ Akmal Marhali said. ‘In any case, going forward our football must be improved from the grassroots level to the professional competition to achieve success in the future,’ he concluded.