Bandung resident Ricko Andrean Maulana, 22, was a supporter of the city’s soccer team Persib, but his life ended at the hands of fellow Persib supporters due to a case of mistaken allegiance after the match between Persib and its bitter rival, Jakarta’s Persija, in Bandung last Saturday.
According to Kompas’ chronology of events, Ricko took off his Persib jersey at half time when, at the same time, a brawl erupted between the two sets of supporters on the stands. Ricko joined the crowd to watch the fight, but a Persija supporter who was being targeted by suspected Persib hooligans hid behind Ricko for protection.
Because Ricko wasn’t wearing Persib’s colors, the hooligans thought Ricko was a Persija fan and decided to go after him too.
“Before he was beaten, he showed his ID card and said, “I’m from Bandung! I’m from Bandung!” said Susilawati, Ricko’s sister, as quoted by Kompas yesterday.
Ricko’s pleas were ignored and the hooligans ganged up on him, inflicting numerous injuries including a severe concussion.
The injured Ricko was then taken to two hospitals for intensive treatment. On Thursday morning, five days since the attack, Ricko succumbed to his injuries and passed away.
The Bandung Police has not yet identified Ricko’s attackers.
Death and mayhem caused by soccer hooligans is still common in Indonesia. Last year, one supporter died and dozens were injured, including a police officer who lost an eye, during a clash between Persija hooligans and the riot police at GBK Stadium in Jakarta. A month before that, a 16-year-old was killed outside the stadium in a stampede as a group of Persija hooligans were running away from the police.
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