PSSI won't take blame for violence<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The Indonesian Soccer Association (PSSI) disavowed
\nresponsibility on Tuesday for the vandalism committed by fans of
\nhometown team Persija after Sunday's Indonesian League final.<\/p>\n
The Office of the State Ministry of Youth and Sports Affairs
\nsummoned PSSI, as the organizer of the final, and the National
\nSports Council on Tuesday for their explanation of the violence
\nthat hit Senayan, Central Jakarta, after Persipura Jayapura beat
\nPersija 3-2.<\/p>\n
\"The organizing committee, which is PSSI, had the task of
\nassuring safety and comfort during the match inside the stadium.
\nBut, in order to guarantee security, we have to enlist security
\nofficials,\" said PSSI secretary-general Nugraha Besoes, adding
\nthat such acts as the throwing of firecrackers was for the
\nsecurity apparatus to deal with.<\/p>\n
He added that soccer hooliganism was a global problem, and
\nthat an integrated security plan, coordinated the National
\nPolice, should be devised in the future.<\/p>\n
On Saturday, Nugraha met with city police officials as well as
\nfan club coordinators about security measures for the final. An
\nestimated 3,000 police personnel were recruited to keep order,
\nwith the PSSI official saying security measures were of
\n\"international standard\".<\/p>\n
Fans rioted after the early evening game, pushing down fences
\nwithin the stadium, smashing street and traffic lights and also
\nvandalizing about 22 private and police vehicles. Damage within
\nthe Senayan sports complex is estimated at almost Rp 164 million.<\/p>\n
Deputy for sports empowerment Djauhar Arifin Husin, who
\nconducted Tuesday's meeting, said the results would be reported
\nto state minister Adhyaksa Dault, who is attending the National
\nDisabled Students Sports Week in Surakarta, Central Jakarta.<\/p>\n
Adhyaksa said on Monday that clubs must also be responsible
\nfor the hooliganism of their supporters.<\/p>\n
Chairman of Persija's JakMania Fans Club Tauhid Ferry
\nIndrasyarief told The Jakarta Post separately on Tuesday that his
\norganization erected banners stating that people who did not pay
\nfor tickets or committed acts of vandalism were not considered
\nsupporters.<\/p>\n
Ferry added that about 22,000 fans purchased tickets for the
\ngame on Saturday, but thousands of people streamed into the
\nstadium on Sunday without paying.<\/p>\n
\"They were not under my supervision, I did not know them ...<\/p>\n
\"We will continue to focus on the development in our members,
\nbut other than that, we have no control.\"<\/p>\n
PSSI sold only 30 percent of its target of 80,000 tickets in
\nthe 100,000 capacity stadium. TV footage showed police retreating
\nfrom lobbed stones as fans broke into the stadium through one
\ngate.<\/p>\n
Bung Karno Sports Stadium unit I chief Putu Megasuta put the
\ntotal losses from the violence within the complex at Rp
\n163,959,000.<\/p>\n
\"We will give PSSI the option to pay the total amount or they
\ncan repair the facility by themselves,\" Putu said, adding that he
\nwould hand in the damaged report to PSSI soon. (004)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/pssi-wont-take-blame-for-violence-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}