AFC applauds host PSM Makassar<\/p>\n
MAKASSAR, Sulawesi Selatan (JP): The Asian Football
\nConfederation (AFC) praised host PSM Makassar at its debut
\nstaging of the Asian Champions' Cup quarterfinals, East Asia
\nzone, at the Mattoangin Stadium starting on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
\"It is really unbelievable. Before the competitors came here,
\nthey had the image that Indonesian people are not friendly, but
\nit was completely overturned after they received a warm welcome
\nhere,\" AFC official Alex Soosay told a press conference on
\nThursday.<\/p>\n
\"They were also impressed by local soccer fans who were very
\nsupportive of their team although it lost to Shandong Luneng.
\nThey also cheered the first match between Jubilo Iwata and
\nSamsung Suwon Blue Wings. This has set the precedent that an
\ninternational soccer match staged outside the capital could run
\nsmoothly.\"<\/p>\n
Soosay -- accompanied by officials Nurdin Halid and Ilham
\nArief Siradjuddin -- said he would report to the AFC competition
\ncommission on the good service provided by PSM.<\/p>\n
\"If the matches tomorrow and on Sunday also run smoothly, we
\ncan recommend Makassar to host other international events,
\nincluding the Tiger Cup,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Nurdin, who is also patron of PSM, apologized to AFC for
\nskipping the post-match conference after losing 1-3 to Shandong.<\/p>\n
\"We received a warning letter from AFC but it's totally our
\nteam manager and coach's fault. They were too overcome by sadness
\nafter the defeat and forgot to join the conference.\"<\/p>\n
\"We apologize for our carelessness and we're ready to take any
\npunishment.\"<\/p>\n
AFC also warned Blue Wings for the same reason after the South
\nKorean team lost 0-3 to heavy favorite Jubilo of Japan.<\/p>\n
Fake tickets<\/p>\n
Nurdin also apologized to local supporters who were not able
\nto enter the 18,000-seated-stadium as it was filled to capacity.<\/p>\n
Organizers had to close the gate as spectators who flocked to
\nthe stadium found it was already full. Reports said the
\norganizers found 5,000 fake tickets and fake ID cards for press
\nand officials.<\/p>\n
The organizers printed only 18,000 tickets and 16,780 were
\nsold, but the spectators at the stadium totaled nearly 23,000.<\/p>\n
\"We were shocked by the incident. Besides the fake tickets,
\nmany spectators entered the stadium using tickets for Friday's
\nand Sunday's matches,\" Nurdin said.<\/p>\n
\"I apologized to spectators who were not able to enter the
\nstadium on Wednesday, especially those who bought tickets at
\nofficial ticket booths and still could not watch the matches.\"<\/p>\n
Nurdin called on soccer fans to arrive earlier for the
\nremaining two matches as the stadium gate will be closed at 6
\np.m. local time.<\/p>\n
To distinguish the official tickets, the organizers will put a
\nspecial mark on them. Spectators who have already bought tickets
\nfor Friday and Sunday are expected to report to the organizers
\nbefore entering the stadium.<\/p>\n
Nurdin urged ticket agents not to double the price. He also
\nclaimed that Rp 60 million (US$6,000) has been made ready for
\nticket refunds to spectators.<\/p>\n
Friday's fixtures will feature PSM playing Blue Wings
\ninitially, followed by Jubilo against Shandong in the second
\nmatch. (27)<\/p>",
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