FIFA Approves Awaydays Return to Indonesia's Super League, But Major Rivalries Remain Excluded

Indonesian football supporters have received positive news ahead of the 2026/2027 Super League season, with awaydays set to return after a three-season ban. PSSI and I.League have received approval from FIFA to allow visiting supporters to attend selected away matches, although the policy will not apply to the highly anticipated clashes between Persija Jakarta and Persib Bandung or Arema FC and Persebaya Surabaya.

I.League submitted a new proposal to FIFA regarding the return of away supporters after evaluating the situation over the past three seasons. The approval comes with several conditions that clubs and supporters must follow. The policy is viewed as part of the continuing efforts to improve the organization and culture of Indonesian football following the major reforms introduced after the Kanjuruhan tragedy in October 2022.

The awayday ban was originally introduced as part of a broader transformation involving Indonesian football authorities, FIFA and the government. During the three-season period, supporter behavior was closely monitored, with recent incidents involving away fans reportedly declining significantly. This improvement became an important factor in the decision to gradually restore away support.

However, the return of traveling supporters will not mean unrestricted access to every fixture. Clubs and fan groups must comply with specific regulations and security requirements designed to prevent previous problems from returning. Maintaining discipline will be essential if the awayday system is to continue throughout the season and become a permanent part of Indonesian football.

Security will ultimately determine whether visiting supporters are allowed at individual matches. Police authorities will retain the power to approve or restrict away fans based on security assessments and intelligence information. As a result, matches involving intense rivalries, particularly Persija versus Persib and Arema versus Persebaya, are expected to remain excluded from the awayday policy due to their elevated security risks.