REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, BOGOR -- President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has called on the joint commitment to prevent incidents such as the death of Persija football team's supporter Haringga Sirila from recurring in the future. Haringga died after being mobbed by rival supporters during a match between Persib Bandung and Persija Jakarta at Bandung Lautan Api Stadium on Sunday (Sept 23).

"There must be a joint commitment to prevent such incidents from happening in the future," he stated here on Tuesday.

In the past eight months, 16 football supporters have died in a similar manner in the country, he noted, adding that it was a big number. Jokowi has sent his deepest condolences to the family of Haringga.

"I conveyed my deepest condolences over the death of the supporter. Of course, 16 is a big number. Fanaticism must not be allowed to go too far to cause crimes. It must be stopped and upheld as a sporting spirit," he remarked.

He explained that fanaticism does not reflect sporting spirit. In view of that, he appealed to all parties concerned, including the sports ministry, PSSI (football association), and supporters' groups, to sit together to overcome the problem.

The move is important and needs to be taken to prevent possible recurrence of such case, he added.

"I call on the sports ministry, PSSI, and supporters' groups to sit together to prevent such cases from recurring. It has happened repeatedly in the past," he revealed.

He pointed out that sanction needs to be imposed although it may not guarantee repetition of such incidents.

"Imposing a sanction is better, although it will not produce any guarantee. The most important thing is for the sports ministry, PSSI, and supporters' groups, especially the fanatic ones, to settle such cases soon," he elaborated.

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