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)