Persebaya Surabaya holds spectator record

Persebaya Surabaya holds spectator record

JAKARTA (JP): Persebaya Surabaya has accumulated a record of 155,000 spectators during its six national soccer league matches at home since the league kicked off on Nov. 27 last year.

The data, issued by the All-Indonesia Football Association, reveals that the East Javanese team, winner of the 1986 intercity amateur championship, outdid its West Division rival Persiraja Banda Aceh which has attracted only 92,000 spectators in its seven home matches so far.

Semi-professional champion Pelita Jaya of Jakarta trails is in third place, with 83,500 attending five matches, followed by North Sumatra's Medan Jaya with 74,000 in eight matches.

Amateur sides Persija Jakarta and PS Bengkulu registered the fewest spectators, with 12,500 apiece. Persija has hosted five matches, three more than Bengkulu.

A total of 1,518,500 soccer fans turned out to fill stadiums throughout the country in 152 matches staged in the past two months. The East Division leads the West Division by 189,000 spectators.

The data discloses that referees have sent off eight players and showed 270 yellow cards during the first 152 matches. The East Division matches saw six players sent off and 135 yellow cards.

Surabaya-based semiprofessional team Assyabaab Salim tops the goal-scoring list with 19, two more than Pelita Jaya. A total of 338 goals were scored, with West Division teams netting 172 goals.

The newly established Indonesian soccer league, which is allowed to employ foreign players, groups 17 semi-professional and 17 amateur city clubs, making it the biggest league in the world. The teams are split into two divisions, with the two top teams playing in the grand final in July.

The league has been taking a long break since Jan. 30. Games will resume after the Idul Fitri holiday early next month. (amd)