Persela Lamongan Vs Persijap Jepara Kisruh, Sanctions Lurking

JAKARTA - The 2024/2025 Liga 2 match between Persela Lamongan and Persijap Jepara in the last eight was marked by chaos. In the aftermath, this match was stopped and will continue in Sidoarjo on Wednesday, February 19, 2025, without spectators.

The Persela Lamongan vs Persijap Jepara match is the last eight match of Group Y Liga 2 2024/2025 which was held at the Tuban Sport Center Stadium on Tuesday, February 18, 2025, afternoon WIB. However, the match had to be stopped in the 79th minute due to riots.

Bangkit Sanjaya as the referee on duty that day was forced to stop the match because a number of the host supporters pushed into the field and damaged the facilities.

In the aftermath of this chaos, match commissioners held an emergency meeting which was attended by related parties. As a result, PT LIB as the operator decided that the Persela vs Persijap match would resume on Wednesday, February 19, 2025, at the Gelora Delta Stadium, Sidoarjo.

The match will start with the same players, both on the field and on the bench, as when the match is stopped.

In the substitute match, it is also not allowed to add or change the registered reserve players when the match is stopped.

The substitution must match the initial conditions before the match is stopped and the player who gets a red card cannot be replaced.

The follow-up match will start at 09.00 WIB, starting from the 79th minute in a dropped ball position with a temporary score of 1-0 for Persijap Jepara's advantage.

PT Liga Indonesia Baru (LIB) as the competition operator emphasized that this decision was taken taking into account aspects of security and smooth running of the competition.

"We have coordinated with all relevant parties, including the match equipment and the competing team," said LIB Operations Director Asep Saputra, on the LIB official website quoted Wednesday, February 19, 2025.

"Given that conditions at the Tuban Sport Center Stadium are not possible, the match will continue at the Gelora Delta Stadium, Sidoarjo, with an audienceless status," said Asep.

LIB also appealed to all parties, including clubs and supporters to maintain order for the continuity of sportsmanship and professional competitions.

Any action that interferes with the course of the match will get serious attention in accordance with applicable regulations.

"Of course we are watching the events that lead to vandalism and several other similar things in Indonesian football competitions, that should not be tolerated."

"There must be strict sanctions in the existing football law corridor. Competitive values must exist, but they continue to run in the principles of fair play, respect, and fairness."

"We want to grow together to improve the value of competition in terms of technical quality, spectacle and industry."

"In the portion and authority we have, we will directly communicate with Komdis PSSI to report everything according to existing facts," said Asep.