Hooliganism at soccer matches

Hooliganism at soccer matches

From Sinar Pagi

The Liga Indonesia soccer competition has just started, but its impact is already being felt. In certain towns hooliganism has occurred. It is a bad sign for the development of Indonesian soccer and the safety of the community.

Apart from formless play, bad refereeing has often triggered turmoil which leads to spectator brutality. A match on Nov. 20 at the Jatidiri stadium in Semarang saw riots resulting in spectator brutality because the public was dissatisfied with the referee in the match between the Semarang team (PSIS) and the Bandung team (PERSIB) which ended in a goalless draw.

The home supporters, disappointed because their team could not win, did not hesitate to throw objects onto the field. At every corner of the stadium people were seen burning stacks of paper. On one platform spectators were throwing objects at security officers who wanted to ward off brutal actions.

Referee Mugito from Gresik refereed badly, which led to rough and monotonous play. The referee was often doubtful and was duly protested to by both teams. Some Bandung players even surrounded him menacingly when he awarded a penalty kick to PSIS in the 87th minute. However, the penalty was badly taken by Semarang player Hadi Surento. This angered the home crowd.

After the match PSIS supporters burned down a security booth. Houses along Jl. Gunung Semeru were pelted with stones and flower pots on the road were knocked over. Hundreds of security guards were on duty in the streets around the stadium that night.

If conditions like these are tolerated, soccer matches will be made tools to vent emotions. The soccer association (PSSI), especially its referee committee, should be able to assign quality referees, without a volatile temperament, and most importantly without bias. Players should show restraint in their emotions. If they cannot do this, our soccer world will never improve.

While the present condition is still open for improvement, the momentum of this competition could be used as a starting point for efforts towards better conditions.

DEDDY TRIYONO

Semarang, Central Java