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)