PSSI said too slow in handling hooliganism

PSSI said too slow in handling hooliganism

JAKARTA (JP): The All Indonesia Football Association (PSSI)
was too slow in reacting to the recent hooliganism in Yogyakarta,
Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Hayono Isman said yesterday.

"Since there was no immediate reaction from PSSI, I had to
raise the matter myself," Hayono said, referring to his threat to
disband the two-month-old Indonesian league.

The threat has drawn protests from PSSI and the league's
administrators.

"The government would not have launched such a direct rebuke,
had PSSI resolved the matter right away and imposed sanctions,"
he added.

The incident happened at the Mandala Krida stadium in
Yogyakarta when the fans of PSIM Yogyakarta threw bottles at
Persebaya Surabaya fans while the match was underway.

Suhermansyah, 40, a supporter of Persebaya Surabaya, was
trampled in the riot which ensued. He died on the way to the
hospital.

Hayono said he still has to report on the measures taken in
the wake of the incident to President Soeharto. He complained
that PSSI is still keeping him waiting for a report on the case.

PSSI Secretary-General Soeparjo Pontjowinoto said yesterday,
the demanded report will be submitted no later than Monday.

PSSI announced on Thursday it was prohibiting Persebaya and
PSIM from hosting one match each.

PSIM said it would submit to the disciplinary decision, but
Persebaya said the ruling was unfair. Persebaya said it suffered
from the riot and accused the match inspector of giving a false
account of the incident.

Withdraw

Sunarto Sumoprawiro, who is both Persebaya chairman and
Surabaya Mayor, announced Persebaya's withdrawal from the league
after an emergency meeting attended by all Persebaya
administrators Thursday night.

The East Javanese side will face a Rp 50 million (US$22,624)
fine if it pulls out prior to the end of the season.

Hayono said Persebaya's was not a sportsmanlike decision.
"Persebaya should heed not only its own interests, but the
national interest in developing the sport," Hayono said.

He wants Persebaya to reconsider the decision.

East Java Governor Basofi Soedirman did not take Persebaya's
surprising move seriously, saying: "The measure is not a severe
one. Persebaya should accept the decision maturely and wisely."

Soeparjo joined Basofi's stance, saying that PSSI would not
recognize Persebaya's withdrawal before receiving a formal
letter. "I think Persebaya was so emotional that it came to such
a wrong decision," he said.

Hayono reiterated that the league would have to be suspended
for "quite some time" to allow for the cooling of emotions and
reduction of the desire for revenge over Suhermansyah's death.

Hayono also proposed that all supporters be given a guide book
on how to be a good supporter and the legal sanctions they could
face for rioting.

"Identification tags might be necessary to help determine
which supporters trigger brawls," Hayono suggested. He also urged
a more active role of the present fan clubs. He said PSSI should
eventually gain control over the clubs' members. The clubs should
educate and, if necessary, give their members banners, which they
could wave instead of throwing stones or bottles in the stadium,
Hayono added.

Hayono did not rule out the possibility of checking supporters
one by one to make sure they do not carry sharp weapons into the
stadium. However, Hayono said neither the state nor the public
should bear the cost incurred for such security measures.
Instead, Hayono suggested, a security premium be placed on the
ticket price. (arf)