PSSI won't take blame for violence
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
The Indonesian Soccer Association (PSSI) disavowed responsibility on Tuesday for the vandalism committed by fans of hometown team Persija after Sunday's Indonesian League final.
The Office of the State Ministry of Youth and Sports Affairs summoned PSSI, as the organizer of the final, and the National Sports Council on Tuesday for their explanation of the violence that hit Senayan, Central Jakarta, after Persipura Jayapura beat Persija 3-2.
"The organizing committee, which is PSSI, had the task of assuring safety and comfort during the match inside the stadium. But, in order to guarantee security, we have to enlist security officials," said PSSI secretary-general Nugraha Besoes, adding that such acts as the throwing of firecrackers was for the security apparatus to deal with.
He added that soccer hooliganism was a global problem, and that an integrated security plan, coordinated the National Police, should be devised in the future.
On Saturday, Nugraha met with city police officials as well as fan club coordinators about security measures for the final. An estimated 3,000 police personnel were recruited to keep order, with the PSSI official saying security measures were of "international standard".
Fans rioted after the early evening game, pushing down fences within the stadium, smashing street and traffic lights and also vandalizing about 22 private and police vehicles. Damage within the Senayan sports complex is estimated at almost Rp 164 million.
Deputy for sports empowerment Djauhar Arifin Husin, who conducted Tuesday's meeting, said the results would be reported to state minister Adhyaksa Dault, who is attending the National Disabled Students Sports Week in Surakarta, Central Jakarta.
Adhyaksa said on Monday that clubs must also be responsible for the hooliganism of their supporters.
Chairman of Persija's JakMania Fans Club Tauhid Ferry Indrasyarief told The Jakarta Post separately on Tuesday that his organization erected banners stating that people who did not pay for tickets or committed acts of vandalism were not considered supporters.
Ferry added that about 22,000 fans purchased tickets for the game on Saturday, but thousands of people streamed into the stadium on Sunday without paying.
"They were not under my supervision, I did not know them ...
"We will continue to focus on the development in our members, but other than that, we have no control."
PSSI sold only 30 percent of its target of 80,000 tickets in the 100,000 capacity stadium. TV footage showed police retreating from lobbed stones as fans broke into the stadium through one gate.
Bung Karno Sports Stadium unit I chief Putu Megasuta put the total losses from the violence within the complex at Rp 163,959,000.
"We will give PSSI the option to pay the total amount or they can repair the facility by themselves," Putu said, adding that he would hand in the damaged report to PSSI soon. (004)