Indonesian football fans set aside fierce rivalries after stadium disaster

In Indonesia, football fan culture is vibrant, and its rivalries intense. Animosity between opposing teams is so strong that away fans are generally banned from attending games, as was the case at the time of the Kanjuruhan stadium disaster, when only home Arema supporters were allowed tickets.

Rivalries have descended into violence in the past. Before the Kanjuruhan disaster, 78 people had died in football-related accidents over the last 28 years, according to government figures. It is common for away players to be escorted to and from matches by armoured vehicles.

Yet the disaster that claimed the lives of 131 people in Malang regency, East Java, this month, has prompted – for now at least – a dialling down in hostilities.

Fans of both Arema and their rivals Persebaya have come together, with members of the latter offering support to those mourning friends and relatives. Voices from both sides want organisers and the police to be held accountable.

There was chaos after a pitch invasion by some Arema fans, which prompted police to fire teargas, including, witnesses say, into the stands without warning. The huge clouds of teargas caused panic, and thousands rushed to escape. It was one of the deadliest sports stadium disasters ever.

The Indonesian government has established a fact-finding mission, and six people are already facing charges over the disaster. Already, questions have been raised: why did police use teargas inside the stadium, contrary to Fifa guidance? Why were 42,000 tickets sold for a stadium that holds a maximum of 38,000 people. Why were only four paramedics on standby inside the stadium?

On Monday, the police admitted the teargas they had used had expired.

Fans from both sides want answers. “Who