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For the second consecutive week, there will be no football in the nation’s capital.

Persija Jakarta was scheduled to host Persiwa Wamena in an Indonesian Super League fixture today at Gelora Bung Karno Stadium. Unfortunately for football fans, local police have better things to do.

“Jakarta Police refused to issue a match permit, so we had to call off the match,” Persija match organizer Reza Khan said on Friday. “The police said it was because they were having an anti-terrorist exercise, so they banned football matches in Jakarta from March 11 to 16.”

Reza said police refused to issue a permit even though he offered to stage the match behind closed doors.

The anti-terror exercise, which also involves the Indonesian Army Special Forces, officially began on Thursday after being opened by Indonesia Police Chief General Bambang Hendarso Danuri.

Calls to Jakarta Police for comment went unanswered.

Last week’s Jakarta derby also fell foul of the police. Persitara North Jakarta was set to host Persija at Soemantri Brodjonegoro Stadium on March 7, but concerns about possible fan violence led Jakarta Police to demand the match be moved to Gelora Bung Karno and played with no spectators.

Rather than play at an empty stadium, league administrator PT Liga Indonesia rescheduled the derby for May 22.

PTLI urged Persija to try to hold the Persiwa fixture as originally scheduled.

“It’s difficult to reschedule the match because Persiwa has AFC Cup fixtures, too. It would be unfair for Persiwa if we move the game to another date,” PTLI chief executive Joko Driyono said on Friday. “Let’s wait and see on Saturday whether the match can be played or not.

“If not, we’ll bring the case to the disciplinary committee to decide whether we’ll give Persiwa an automatic 3-0 win or not.”

According to Super League rules, match organizers must give PTLI a 14-day advance notice if they want a match rescheduled. If not, the match will be forfeited and the visiting team awarded a 3-0 victory.

Reza said organizers proposed moving the match to Krakatau Steel Stadium in Cilegon, Banten, but PTLI refused as the stadium does not meet league standards.

Missing fixtures is a huge blow for Persija, which recently found a vein of good form and put together a 13-match unbeaten run. The Kemayoran Tigers shook off an early-season malaise to rise to fifth place in the table with 35 points, 13 behind league leader Arema Malang.

Persija assistant manager Ferry Indrasjarief was lost for words at the news.

“We are shocked. It will be very hard to lose a match without even playing. I can’t say much right now,” he said in a brief phone interview.

Elsewhere on Friday, Persela Lamongan sacked coach Widodo Cahyono Putra after a string of poor performances after the mid-season break saw the club slide down the table.

Persela has just one win in its last 11 matches and now sits 11th, just four points above the relegation zone. It has yet to announce a replacement for Widodo.