PSSI won't take blame for violence

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)