West Java legislator calls for attack on Persib U-18 bus to be fully investigated

Bandung, West Java (ANTARA) - West Java Regional House of Representatives (DPRD) member Zaini Shofari has strongly condemned an attack on and damage to the bus of Persib Bandung’s Elite Pro Academy (EPA) U-18 team by supporters of another club at the Batang rest area in Central Java.

He said the acts of vandalism and looting had gone beyond sporting rivalry and were purely criminal offences that must be dealt with firmly under the law.

“I strongly condemn the attack on Persib’s Elite Pro Academy (EPA) U-18 bus at the Batang rest area in Central Java by Persija supporters. The vandalism and looting were no longer a matter of rivalry but criminal acts. The incident must be fully investigated so it does not happen again. Whoever the perpetrators are,” Zaini said in a text message from Bandung, West Java, on Monday.

The West Java DPRD Commission V member called on law enforcement agencies and national football authorities to impose severe sanctions to provide a real deterrent and prevent similar crimes in the future.

In his view, strict rules and penalties should apply not only inside stadiums during matches but also in areas outside them.

“There must be a deterrent, in addition to the existing legal rules, so that any supporters who treat another team or its fans this way understand the consequences. Sanctions apply inside the stadium during matches, and they should apply outside it too,” Zaini said.

He also praised the Batang Municipal Police for swiftly pursuing the alleged attackers as far as Karawang, West Java.

Zaini reminded all supporters that CCTV and mobile-phone cameras make it easy to record incidents and share footage widely within seconds.

“Remember, CCTV and mobile-phone cameras can easily record anything, and the footage is readily accessible. Within seconds of an incident, it can be circulating. Everyone should be camera-aware,” he said.

Zaini specifically urged Persib supporters, known as Bobotoh, to remain calm, act maturely and avoid being provoked into retaliation, in order to protect Indonesian football’s reputation and prevent it from being seen as a source of social problems and crime.

“This incident should concern us all, especially Persib’s Bobotoh. They should not behave that way or retaliate. Once again, we are in a different class,” he said.