Mata Gas In The PSIS Semarang Kontra Persis Solo Match, Police: Outside The Police Responsibility Stadium

Thousands of PSIS Semarang supporters were intercepted into the Jatidiri Stadium during PSIS against Persis Solo Friday, February 17. (ANTARA-IC Senjaya)

The National Police confirmed that the police had complied with the rules for firing tear gas to disperse PSIS Semarang supporters in a riot outside the Jatidiri Stadium, Friday, February 17.

The riot occurred outside the entrance to the stadium during the match between PSIS Semarang and Persis Solo in the 25th match of BRI Liga 1.

"Outside of the stadium it is the responsibility of the police," said Head of the Public Relations Division (Kadiv Humas) of the National Police Inspector General (Inspector General) of Police Dedi Prasetyo to reporters, Sunday, February 19.

Dedi continued, it is not allowed to use tear gas in an effort to prevent or disperse the masses in football matches in the Indonesian Police Regulation Number 10 of 2022 concerning Security of the Implementation of Sports Competitions.

However, he emphasized that the new rules signed on November 4, 2022, only tied up the area inside the stadium, not outside the stadium.

"If in the stadium is Perpol 10 and the FIFA Statute, it is the responsibility of the implementation, security management, and officials," said Dedi.

Riots involving PSIS supporters took place outside the Jatidiri Stadium in Semarang, Friday, February 17. The clashes were inevitable when the police blocked PSIS supporters including from Snex and Blue Panser from entering the stadium.

Thousands of PSIS supporters pushed in and wanted to watch PSIS compete against Persis even though it was agreed without spectators. They threw bottles and stones at the police. The tear gas was finally fired by the police at the supporters to disperse it.