Soccer body acts to stem violence

Soccer body acts to stem violence

JAKARTA (JP): The All-Indonesia Football Association has
tightened its security measures ahead of the national league
championship semifinals and final here this weekend.

Nugaraha Besoes, the association's secretary-general, told a
press conference yesterday that the recent brawl-marred soccer
final at the National Games prompted the strict security plan.

"Smarting from the incident which tarnished the National Games
soccer final, we will restrict the number of officials and
security forces who are allowed onto the pitch," Nugraha said.

Officials from Irian Jaya mobbed referee I Made Sutra and
hurled anything they could find at him following their team's 1-2
loss to East Java in the soccer final which preceded the Games
closing ceremony on Sept. 21.

"We are trying to prevent such humiliating and destructive
conduct from happening again," Nugraha stressed. The National
Sports Council has set up an honorary body to decide what
punitive measures should be taken against the Irianese officials.

No less than 1,000 security officers, including riot police
and military personnel, will be deployed in the environs of the
Senayan stadium during each of Friday's semifinals and Sunday's
final.

The soccer championship organizers are keen to keep a tight
security grip on the event also because of the Armed Forces Day
ceremony, scheduled for the nearby Senayan complex's eastern
parking lot on Oct. 5.

Nughara dismissed any fears that security officers will be
more oppressive than usual in handling the crowd. "We are
applying repressive security measures in a sympathetic manner,"
he said.

Nugraha criticized the security arrangements during the Games
soccer final for having a confusing system of command, which
resulted in many different officers giving orders.

The organizers will also split opposing fans during every
match in order to avoid direct contact between them. "However one
or two people may infiltrate their rivals' camp because we are
dealing with tens thousands of people," said Nugraha.

Draw

Mitra Surabaya, PSM Ujungpandang, Persipura Jayapura and
Mastrans Bandung Raya reached the semifinals after the final-12
matches in Bandung, Surabaya and Ujungpandang concluded last
Sunday. The semifinal pairings will be decided today by a draw.

The four teams will be vying for the coveted President's Cup,
which will be presented by Vice President Try Sutrisno on Sunday.

The winning team will also receive Rp 75 million (US$32,190)
in prize money, with the runner-up getting Rp 50 million. The
association-nominated best player will bag Rp 25 million, and the
top scorer will be awarded the "golden boots" and Rp 10 million
in cash.

Tickets for the semifinals and final cost between Rp 5,000 and
Rp 150,000.

Nugraha said that the semifinalists will each earn 10 per cent
of Friday's ticket sales. The association and the league's
promoter, PT Cipta Citra Sports, will share the rest. The same
allocation will apply to the final.

The inaugural championship last year was won by Persib
Bandung, which beat Petrokimia Putra of Gresik, East Java, 1-0 in
the final. (amd)