Minister wants soccer fans to behave properly<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): State Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Agung
\nLaksono called yesterday on the country's soccer fans to behave
\nthemselves when the All Indonesian Soccer Federation restarts the
\nprofessional league in October.<\/p>\n
Agung said the league's survival prospects would depend very
\nmuch on the supporters' good behavior, considering the fact that
\nthey had been prone to run amok in the past.<\/p>\n
\"Now that the country's security situation is getting better,
\nI think this is the perfect time for the federation to resume the
\nleague. I hope fans can show good manners in stadiums. No more
\nhooliganism.<\/p>\n
\"Their good behavior will contribute to league's existence in
\nthe future. So I beg the soccer fans to help us create a mutually
\nbeneficial situation during the league.\"<\/p>\n
Minister of Defense and Security\/Armed Forces Commander Gen.
\nWiranto gave the federation the green light Wednesday to kick off
\nthe professional league's fifth season.<\/p>\n
If the plan goes as expected, the new league will feature only
\n20 clubs, instead of 31 as in previous seasons.<\/p>\n
Wiranto, who chairs the Indonesian Contract Bridge Association
\nand the Indonesian Karate-do Federation, told the soccer
\nfederation's chairman Azwar Anas that the league should no longer
\nbe a forum for hooligans.<\/p>\n
The federation stopped the league prematurely in March due to
\nfears that the unfavorable political climate would trigger more
\nviolence. Soccer crowds had caused serious damage to a number of
\nstadiums before the league was terminated.<\/p>\n
The Asian Football Confederation banned Indonesia from hosting
\ninternational competitions for six months after hooligans marred
\nthe soccer final in the 19th Southeast Asian Games here last
\nOctober. Indonesia lost the match to Thailand in a penalty shoot-
\nout.<\/p>\n
Political uncertainties also cost Indonesia its right to host
\nthe second Tiger Cup.<\/p>\n
Agung said that if soccer fans managed to maintain a peaceful
\natmosphere during the league, the Armed Forces would not hesitate
\nto allow the federation to hold more international competitions.<\/p>\n
Earlier this week, Agung said he had invited one of Portugal's
\nbest soccer teams, Benfica or FC Porto, for a friendly game to
\nboost diplomatic ties between the two countries.<\/p>\n
On Wednesday, the national soccer team defeated Sydney United
\n4-1 in its last warm-up before playing in the Tiger Cup in
\nVietnam next week. The Rusdy Bahalwan squad will leave for
\nVietnam on Monday.<\/p>\n
The tournament will serve as a yardstick for the national team
\nin its bid to compete in the 13th Asian Games in Bangkok in
\nDecember.<\/p>\n
The National Sports Council has said it will only send the
\nteam to Bangkok if its reaches the Tiger Cup final. (yan)<\/p>",
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