Fourteen detained after Persipura defeat sparks violence, vehicle arson and renewed scrutiny of crowd safety.
A post-match riot at Lukas Enembe Stadium in Jayapura has led to multiple arrests and widespread damage, reviving concerns over Indonesia’s stadium safety just as PSSI remains under FIFA monitoring after the 2022 Kanjuruhan disaster.
Riot And Arrests
Papua Police spokesman Senior Commissioner Cahyo Sukarnito said 14 people have been detained and questioned after violence erupted at Lukas Enembe Stadium in Harapan village, Jayapura regency, following Persipura Jayapura’s 1–0 home loss to PS Adhyaksa Banten in a Liga 2 playoff on May 8. Police recorded damage, loss or burning of 67 motorcycles and four cars, and one Jayapura Police officer, Second Inspector Arjuna, is being treated at Bhayangkara Police Hospital for injuries.
Match Tensions And Pitch Invasion
Spectator anger built throughout the match over decisions by main referee Asker Nadjfalief from Uzbekistan, with fans throwing mineral water bottles onto the pitch and forcing a brief stoppage. After the final whistle, projectiles intensified, flares and firecrackers were hurled, and some fans invaded the field—some to boost Persipura players’ morale, others to damage benches and smash glass in the players’ tunnel—while security used shields to escort Adhyaksa players and officials into the dressing room.
Stadium Perimeter Violence
Although police cleared the pitch after about an hour, unrest outside the stadium continued as mobs torched vehicles parked around the venue, including cars and motorbikes belonging to Jayapura Police and the Papua Police Mobile Brigade Unit. The violence forced the cancellation of the post-match press conference and left players and match officials from both sides barricaded inside until they could safely depart around 11pm local time.
Persipura’s Setback And Local Context
The defeat means Persipura, historically one of Indonesia’s most successful clubs with top-flight titles in 2005, 2008–2009, 2010–2011 and 2013, will remain in Liga 2’s Pegadaian Championship instead of returning to Liga 1 and the BRI Indonesian Super League. Lukas Enembe Stadium, used as Persipura’s alternate home to Mandala Stadium in Jayapura city, has now become the scene of unrest at a sensitive time for Indonesian football governance.
FIFA Oversight And Kanjuruhan Legacy
PSSI secretary general Yunus Nusi said the Jayapura riot “smears our soccer journey,” noting that the association is still under FIFA supervision after the 2022 Kanjuruhan Stadium stampede in Malang that killed 135 spectators, largely due to police firing 45 tear-gas rounds in a partially locked stadium. That disaster led to criminal convictions for security officials and forced leadership changes at PSSI, with Erick Thohir replacing Mochamad Iriawan in 2023. The latest violence will likely intensify pressure on Indonesia to prove that crowd control, policing and match-operations reforms are real and sustainable.
The Lukas Enembe Stadium riot shows how quickly frustration over refereeing and results can escalate into destructive violence when crowd management, security protocols and fan culture remain fragile. For Indonesians, it is a stark reminder that genuine reforms—from police tactics to club responsibilities—are essential to keep FIFA’s trust and protect supporters; for Singaporeans, it underlines the broader regional challenge of making mass sporting events safe, accountable and worthy of fans’ passion.
Sources: Straits Times (2026) , The Star (2026)
Keywords: Jayapura Riot, Liga 2 Playoff, Spectator Violence, Kanjuruhan Stampede, Stadium Security Reform
