PSSI promises security for Asian Club Championships
PSSI promises security for Asian Club Championships
MAKASSAR, South Sulawesi (JP): The Soccer Association of
Indonesia (PSSI) has given security assurances for the eastern
quarterfinals matches of the Asian Club Championships to be held
at Mattoangin stadium here from March 21 through March 25.
PSSI Secretary General Tri Goestoro brushed aside the fears of
violence during the matches expressed by three visiting
inspectors from the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), saying
that Makassar was not a target for any social upheaval.
"Makassar has been declared a safe city so don't worry about
safety here," he told The Jakarta Post late on Thursday.
The matches will feature host PSM Makassar, the Suwon
Bluewings of South Korea, Jubilo Iwata of Japan and Shandong
Luneng of China.
Tri explained that some teams were worried about security in
Indonesia particularly after ethnic clashes broke out in Sampit
and Palangkaraya in Central Kalimantan in mid-February.
He said he had assured them that the clashes would have no
significant effect on the soccer matches to be staged in the
South Sulawesi capital.
"Indonesia does not only comprise Kalimantan. They thought
that Makassar and Sampit were close, whereas the two cities are
located far away from each other on two different islands. So
there is no reason to say that Makassar is unsafe," he asserted.
Tri said that he had toured the town along with other PSSI
officials. He also said that the South Sulawesi Police chief,
Inspector General Sofyan Jacob, had vowed to maintain security
during the matches.
Chairman of the Club Championships organizing committee Ilham
Arief Siradjuddin said that the Asian Football Confederation
(AFC) had formally assigned PSM as the host for the event after
the city completed its preparations.
"The AFC gave its approval at a meeting between the organizing
committee and the representatives of the AFC and AML (Asian
Marketing Limited) at the Sahid Makassar hotel. The AFC also had
no problem with the stadium," he told the Post.
He said that the AFC had asked the committee to do some
finishing work, including to the fence at the eastern bleachers.
The AFC had also asked the committee to control local fans,
who invaded the pitch immediately after PSM beat Arema Malang on
Thursday. "Our spectators were the main focus of their attention,
so they asked us to heighten the fences," Ilham said.
The AFC had also asked the committee to further improve the
lighting equipment.
He said that the AFC representatives would return on March 15
for a final inspection. "Their visits here are routine. It's
their job to come to Makassar to inspect (the preparations)."
Fixtures
March 21: Suwon Bluewings vs Jubilo Iwata, PSM Makassar vs
Shandong Luneng.
March 23: PSM Makassar vs Suwon Bluewings, Jubilo Iwata vs
Shandong Luneng.
March 25: Shandong Luneng vs Suwon Bluewings, Jubilo Iwata vs
PSM Makassar. (27)