PSSI punishes clubs for hooliganism
JAKARTA (JP): The Football Association of Indonesia (PSSI) has banned three teams from hosting soccer matches in the sixth Indonesian Soccer League (Ligina) due to their violent supporters.
PSSI official in charge of disciplinary action, Andi Darussalam Tabusala, told a media briefing on Wednesday that Persipura Jayapura, Indocement Cirebon and Persib Bandung must move their matches to stadiums that are at least 100 kilometers away from their homebases. PSM Makassar was given only a strong warning for the behavior of its supporters.
Former manager of Putra Samarinda (Pusam) of East Kalimantan, Tommy Irmanto, was barred from joining the squad for one year after he attacked the referee when Pusam was playing against PSIS Semarang on Feb. 6. The match ended in a scoreless draw.
"There is no other way to control the spectators who run amok during the matches. We can ask the security officers to deploy thousands of soldiers to secure the match but we are not sure whether that's the best way," said Andi.
"In our capacity as match supervisor, we hope to reduce the number of violent incidents in every soccer match." he added.
He also hoped that the clubs could view their sanctions as PSSI's effort to improve the quality of soccer competitions nationwide.
He said PSSI would decide later on the venues of the next matches involving the sanctioned teams. He said that all matches would be supervised directly by PSSI.
Persipura fans turned brutal and threw objects onto the field when Fata Matanu Garcia of host Gelora Dewata equalized 2-2 in the second half at the Mandala Stadium in Jayapura on Feb. 3. The match had to be suspended for 15 minutes.
Persipura won 3-2 but it is not allowed to host the next match against Persma Manado on Feb. 23 and is under probation for the next three matches.
On the same day in the Siliwangi stadium in Bandung, Persib fans ran amok and attacked PSMS Medan players, injuring four players -- Sahari Gultom, Slamet Riyadi, Reswandi and Nelson Sanches -- and one of its officials.
The incident occurred in the 89th minute after striker Sutiono Lamso of Persib kicked the only goal for his club, making the score 1-0 for the home team. According to Andi, Persib will not be allowed to host two matches.
In Makassar, South Sulawesi, during the match pitting PSM against Gelora Dewata in Mattoangin stadium on Feb. 6, Andi said that spectators lit firecrackers and disrupted the match. PSM blanked its guest 5-0.
The same day in Bima stadium in Cirebon, West Java, Indocement's fans entered the field when its player Abdul Azis kicked the last goal for his club in the 80th minute to outclass guest PSMS Medan 2-1. (ivy)