Tight security for soccer semifinals<\/p>\n
By Dwiatmanta<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Security chiefs promised yesterday to deploy all
\ntheir personnel to cover tomorrow's soccer semifinals as anxiety
\nmounted over likely trouble in the rush for seats.<\/p>\n
City military spokesman Lt. Col. D.J. Nachrowi said all 7,500
\ntroops and police reserved for the SEA Games would be assigned to
\nmaintain order during the matches, particularly the one pitting
\nIndonesia against Singapore.<\/p>\n
\"We are sorry that we will have to apply stricter measures; it
\nis mainly because the country's pride is at stake,\" Nachrowi
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
The secretary-general of the Indonesian football association,
\nNoegraha Besoes, has predicted that up to 200,000 people will
\nflock to the 110,000-seat Senayan Stadium to support the
\nIndonesian team, which is eying its first Games soccer gold in
\neight years.<\/p>\n
If all are allowed in it would break the world record for a
\nsoccer international crowd. The current mark of 149,547 was set
\nin 1937 when England played Scotland.<\/p>\n
The record for a football match in Indonesia is 120,000, set
\nwhen Indonesia played North Korea in 1976.<\/p>\n
Nachrowi said the security forces respected the enthusiastic
\nfans' desire to support their team but said unrest was more
\nunlikely in an overcrowded stadium.<\/p>\n
He said security personnel would prevent people from entering
\nthe stadium once it was full to capacity.<\/p>\n
\"Our capability, even at full strength, is no match for such
\nhuge crowds. Hence, we call on those who cannot get into the
\npacked stadium to stay away or watch the match on TV at home,\" he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Unruly soccer crowds have already given SEA Games organizers a
\nheadache as they are prone to throw objects at visiting teams
\nduring matches, to the disappointment of the Asian Football
\nConfederation.<\/p>\n
Confederation secretary-general Peter Velappan urged the
\nIndonesian soccer body to step up security measures after many
\nmissiles were thrown onto the pitch during Indonesia's match
\nagainst Laos on Oct. 6.<\/p>\n
\"There are some people who want to incite riots, but we are
\nnot going to let them do that,\" Nachrowi said.<\/p>\n
In yesterday's group B matches, Laos upset Malaysia 1-0 and
\nVietnam beat the Philippines 3-0, to set up a rematch of the 1995
\nSEA Games final with Thailand in Thursday's semifinals.<\/p>\n
Singapore secured the final semifinal berth after drawing 0-0
\nwith Thailand in group A. The final match in the group saw
\nCambodia beat Myanmar 3-1.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/tight-security-for-soccer-semifinals-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}