Police still studying soccer hooliganism

Police still studying soccer hooliganism

JAKARTA (JP): Police have yet to identify the motives behind the rowdy acts of hooligans during the national final amateur games at the Senayan stadium Sunday evening, says the city police chief.

"We haven't come to that question yet because the investigation continues," Maj. Gen. Mochammad Hindarto told reporters here yesterday.

Hindarto was replying to a question asking whether the rowdy acts at the recent soccer championships had something to do with the ongoing tense situation in Medan, North Sumatra. More than 10,000 workers in Medan rioted last week, leaving one man dead, several shopowners beaten, 12 demonstrators injured, 150 shops ransacked or looted and 12 cars set ablaze.

According to Hindarto, a total of 31 suspects have been detained by police on charges varying from vandalism to assault during the grand final match between favorite Persib Bandung (West Java) and PSM Ujungpandang (South Sulawesi) for the President's Cup, the symbol of national supremacy in amateur soccer, at the stadium Sunday.

The game was ended with a 2-0 win for Persib Bandung.

"At least 21 vehicles, mainly those with Bandung license plate numbers, were damaged by the hooligans after the game," Hindarto said.

The vehicles were 15 private cars, five buses and one taxi.

Sources at the scene said that the vandals also broke cars with Jakarta license plate numbers but had banners supporting Bandung on them.

The detainees, mostly between 15 and 25 years old, consist of three pickpockets, four believed to have lit firecrackers at the stadium, three who set things alight, five who jumped the gate, two who broke the gate, six who threw urine-balloons at other spectators, three ticket scalpers, six who attacked vehicles and two who brought knives.

"No casualties were registered," Hindarto said.

He said that most of the vandals were frustrated after their team lost in the grand final.

PSM Ujungpandang was the title holder.(bsr)