Minister decries Senayan soccer violence<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post
\nJakarta<\/p>\n
State Minister of Youth and Sports Affairs Adhyaksa Dault has
\ncalled for concrete action to deal with soccer hooliganism after
\nviolence marred Sunday's Indonesian League final.<\/p>\n
\"The government must step in to handle this problem, as nearly
\nevery soccer game is accompanied by chaos. It's very
\nembarrassing,\" he was quoted as saying by Antara news service at
\nthe opening of the National Disabled Students Sports Week in
\nSurakarta.<\/p>\n
He said the government would summon the National Sports
\nCouncil, Indonesian Soccer Association (PSSI) and the clubs to
\ndiscuss the violence that followed Persipura Jayapura's 3-2 win
\nover hometown side Persija in Senayan, Central Jakarta.<\/p>\n
\"Where is the responsibility of the clubs who gather together
\nthat many people and then leave them to their own devices? We
\nwill ask them to correct this (behavior) and to be accountable.\"<\/p>\n
Adhyaksa said the wave of hooliganism -- including violence
\nafter a preliminary game on Sept. 16 in the capital -- was
\nparticularly disturbing as the country prepares to host the Asia
\nCup in 2007.<\/p>\n
PSSI said on Monday it was trying to put a figure on the
\npostmatch damage.<\/p>\n
\"We are adding up the total losses,\" PSSI secretary-general
\nNugraha Besoes was quoted as saying by Antara.<\/p>\n
He added that it would take up to two days for the soccer body
\nand the administration of Bung Karno stadium to determine the
\nfigure.<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Police said 74 people were detained, 22 vehicles
\ndamaged and 41 people injured. The latter consisted of 23 police
\npersonnel, six supporters and 13 passersby.<\/p>\n
\"The 74 people who were caught are undergoing intense
\nquestioning. The ones proven to have been involved in the
\ndisruption will be charged, while the others will be freed
\ntonight,\" city police public information chief Ketut Untung Yoga
\nAna said on Monday.<\/p>\n
Of the 22 vehicles damaged, 11 belonged to members of the
\npublic, while the others were from the city police. Most of the
\nvehicles had their windows shattered or rear view mirrors stolen,
\nbut two police vehicles were burned.<\/p>\n
PSSI also suffered huge losses in ticket sales for the final.<\/p>\n
The association sold only 30 percent of its target of 80,000
\ntickets valued at Rp 1.4 million. Many of the fans were able to
\naccess the stadium through a separate gate, he added.<\/p>",
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