Hooliganism hits again despite punishment
Hooliganism hits again despite punishment
JAKARTA (JP): Hooliganism again found its way into the Indonesian soccer league after PSIS striker Budiono Sutikno kicked the match's only goal to beat PSM Ujung Pandang at the Jatidiri stadium in Semarang, Central Java on Saturday.
PSIS supporters booed and hurtled bottles at PSM players as they walked of the pitch, Antara reported. PSM supporters retaliated by throwing stones. The pitch was soon bombarded with objects and referee Eko was hit in the mouth and lost a tooth.
"Aren't we right to be angry? We came a long way, lost and still have to eat their indecent words. No way!" Rony, the coordinator of PSM supporters, scolded.
The three-and-a-half month-old Indonesian league has been rocked by hooliganism many times. The most serious case happened on Jan. 29 when PSIM Yogyakarta and Persebaya Surabaya fans started a riot which claimed the life of a Persebaya supporter.
The All Indonesia Soccer Association punished the clubs by not allowing them to play a game each and forcing them to play their "home games" as far away as Semarang and Jakarta. They played these games after the one-month rest for the Ramadhan fasting month and had to cover the traveling costs themselves.
The recent brawl in Semarang indicates that the punishment has not been an deterrent.
In other action, the Bandung-based Persib has topped the West Division standings after ending Persiraja Banda Aceh's three- month winning streak with a 4-0 rout on Thursday.
Persib is now leading with 26 points while Persiraja sandwiches Jakarta's Pelita Jaya which is in second place after leading throughout most of the opening months.
Persiraja grabbed the top position last week after a 2-1 away win over Persija Jakarta. Persiraja has never beat Persib.
Persiraja's trouncing left Persebaya Surabaya as the only team which remains unbeaten since the league kicked-off on Nov. 27 last year.
On the other end of the table, PSIM Yogyakarta has not yet won a game, only managing a 2-2 draw against Persipura Jayapura from Irian Jaya after maintaining a 2-0 lead until the 71st minute.
Persebaya, with 21 points, is now ranked second in the East Division, five points shy of Assyabaab SGS, whose grip on the top remains unchallenged. (arf)
Results of Saturday's matches PSIM 2 Persipura 2 PSIS 1 PSM 0 PS Bengkulu 0 Semen Padang 0