PSSI to reschedule soccer league matches
JAKARTA (JP): The Soccer Association of Indonesia (PSSI) has been forced to reschedule numerous matches of the 2001 Bank Mandiri national league, which were postponed over fears of fan violence.
The association hopes to meet with officials from the league's 28 clubs and representatives of the National Police next Monday to discuss the postponement and the possible rescheduling of the matches.
PSSI spokesman Eddi Elison said on Wednesday the association would gather opinions on rescheduling matches, a process that could be more difficult because the matches were likely to coincide with the national team's training for the Southeast Asian Games in Kuala Lumpur from Sept. 8 to Sept. 17. PSSI hopes to reach the final at the biennial event.
"The league has been postponed since May 30 in certain cities which are considered unsafe including Surabaya, Jakarta, Bandung, Malang, Surakarta and Sleman. Local police in those cities have refused to issue match permits," Eddi said.
The main reason the police have refused to issue permits is because fans in these cities often run amok after matches.
Eddi said PSSI had assigned the head of its appeals commission, Brig. Gen. (ret) Ashar Suryobroto, who is also in charge of security at national and international home matches, to meet with the National Police's deputy of operational affairs, Insp. Gen. Adang Herman, to discuss the issuance of match permits.
The two were to meet on Wednesday, but Herman was unable to attend because he was being installed as the chief of the West Sumatra Police.
"Pak Ashar met with some officers in the police headquarters but he could not met with any officers with real authority, because the police are undergoing some changes following the installment of the new National Police deputy chief," Eddi said.
He also said that Ashar would return to the police headquarters on Thursday to confirm the police's policy in handling the league's matches in potentially dangerous areas.
In an unrelated development, 27 clubs are expected to compete in the Bogasari under-18 national league beginning in August. The champion will take home the Suratin Cup.
Eddi said the clubs had passed through qualification rounds staged by several provincial chapters.
"As of Tuesday, 22 junior clubs have qualified for the main division."
Twenty-three clubs have been admitted to the first division and 26 clubs to the second division.
Eddi said the tournament was originally due to take place in July but was delayed because of political tension in the country.
"PSSI has yet to decide on a date (for the tournament). One thing is sure, the tournament will start after the special session (of the People's Consultative Assembly) on Aug. 1," he said. (ivy)