AFC chief wants report on tear gas incident
JAKARTA (JP): Asian soccer's controlling body is looking into Friday's tear gas incident which halted play in a match of the national soccer league.
Asian Football Confederation chairman Dato Peter Velappan said Saturday he was awaiting a written report from the All Indonesia Football Federation (PSSI).
It is still unclear who released the tear gas.
"With the incident, Indonesia should better handle soccer brawling in the future," Dato said during a meeting for the draw of the 19th SEA Games soccer competition.
Disturbances in the stadium should be handled without disrupting the match, he said.
The unprecedented incident occurred in the 68th minute of match between Bandung Raya and Mitra Surabaya. Officials were forced to stop the game, which resumed Saturday with Bandung Raya winning 1-0.
Bandung Raya will take on Persebaya in today's final at 5 p.m.
PSSI secretary-general Nugraha Besoes said his federation regretted the incident and would submit reports on the case to the Indonesian Sport Councils, the AFC and FIFA.
Event organizer Mungkono said the PSSI would cooperate with the security in investigating the tear-gas incident.
He said security would be alert for any disturbances during today's final.
SEA Games soccer
The SEA Games men's soccer competition will start two days before the official opening of the regional sporting event.
Indonesia is in the same group as Vietnam, Malaysia, Laos and the Philippines, and Thailand is grouped with Myanmar, Cambodia, Brunei and Singapore.
Indonesian officials consider Thailand to be their strongest rival.
PSSI chairman Azwar Anas said Indonesia should strive to win its group to avoid a likely showdown with Thailand in the semifinals.
Other officials said that even without Thailand in its group, Indonesia faces an arduous task in defeating solid teams from Malaysia, Vietnam and Laos.
Indonesia's women's team will also compete in the SEA Games soccer tournament.
They are with Malaysia, Myanmar and Singapore in one group, with Thailand, the Philippines and Vietnam in the other. (03)