Hayono discusses hooliganism

Hayono discusses hooliganism

JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Hayono
Isman will discuss the steps to be taken to control hooliganism
in national soccer with the All Indonesia Football Association
(PSSI) today.

Hayono's assistant Imam Suyudi told reporters yesterday that
the discussion, scheduled for today's fast breaking at the PSSI
secretariat, would also involve the security forces.

"We want to exchange ideas during the meeting," Imam said. The
government, he said, was concerned about the increasing incidence
of hooliganism among soccer fans.

Mass brawls during matches of the new Indonesian league
climaxed two weeks ago when a Persebaya Surabaya supporter,
Suhermansyah, was trampled to death during a riot after a match
against PSIM at the Mandala Krida stadium in Yogyakarta. It was
the third such riot within a year at the stadium.

At the time an emotional Hayono had blasted the incident and
suggested that the three-month-old league be stopped. Riots
frequently marred the now-defunct intercity amateur championship.

Elsewhere, hooliganism killed Vincenzo Spagnolo, a soccer fan
from Genoa, Italy, last Wednesday when he was stabbed to death by
a supporter of the rival AC Milan. The incident forced the
Italian Sports Council to suspend all sports matches, except the
Davis Cup duel pitting Italy against the Czech Republic, until
the weekend.

"Disbanding the Indonesian league would be the worst case
scenario -- if we fail to find any other solution," Imam said.

PSSI Secretary General Soeparjo Pontjowinoto, said earlier
that the PSSI would go on staging the league, which unifies 34
teams from both semi-professional and amateur sides.

Imam said there were still many ways to cope with sports
hooliganism in Indonesia. "Fanatical supporters are okay. The
problem is how to inculcate them with ethics," he said. (amd)