Prior to the match on September 5, Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) had already sent delegations over to Indonesia to discuss and plan on security matters, not once but twice. However despite promises of tightening security and the presence of approximately 11,000 personnel, very little was done to protect the traveling Malaysian supporters.
Even though the away support arrive at Gelora Bung Karno Stadium in bus and escorted by police, they were still pelted by stones upon alighting from the bus and had to be rushed inside their seating section for protection. But things really took a turn for the worse inside the stadium.