Arema FC's home match against Persebaya moved to Bali after Malang police deny permit

What happened

Arema FC's BRI Super League 2026/2027 match against Persebaya Surabaya will be played at Stadion Kapten I Wayan Dipta in Gianyar, Bali, on Sunday, 29 November, the club's match organizing committee announced. Bram Hady Sulton, chair of the Arema FC match organizing committee (Panpel), said in an official statement received in Malang, East Java, on Friday that the relocation of the home fixture followed coordination and the issuance of an official circular from the competition operator. "The match circular has indeed been issued and the game against Persebaya is officially set to be held at Stadion Kapten I Wayan Dipta, Bali, on 29 November," Bram said, according to ANTARA News.

Report details

Bram said the committee had already prepared the match mechanism, from on-field technical arrangements and spectator management to simulations, since the start of the competition, and described the organizers as technically and in terms of human resources "very ready." The obstacle arose in Malang: this year the fixture coincided with the series of events for the 1,266th anniversary of Malang Regency, which also uses Stadion Kanjuruhan on 28 November 2026, making the permitting process in Malang particularly challenging.

The location was confirmed by an official reply from Malang Resort Police, letter number B/1541/XI/YAN.2.1./2026 dated 9 November 2026, in which police said they could not issue a crowd permit recommendation for the request the Arema FC committee had submitted through letter number 003/MOC/ARM/XI/2026 dated 1 November 2026. According to the report, the decision followed a 2026 public order and security coordination meeting on 6 November 2026 and took into account an intelligence attention report concerning the BRI Super League 2026/2027 match.

The committee then prepared alternative options so the fixture could proceed on schedule without harming the team technically. Bram said that after reviewing facility readiness, local security coordination and stadium scheduling compatibility, Stadion Kapten I Wayan Dipta in Bali was judged the most feasible venue for the 29 November game. Arema FC's management expressed hope that supporters would understand and support the relocation for the smooth running of the match, shared safety and the preservation of calm in both Malang and at the match venue.