Soccer chief ponders changing league venue

Soccer chief ponders changing league venue

JAKARTA (AFP): Indonesia's soccer authorities are considering
a plan to shift the venue of league matches from Jakarta to a
stadium outside the capital for fear of unrest disrupting the
competition, it was reported here Sunday.

Nugraha Besoes, secretary general of the All Indonesia Soccer
Federation (PSSI), said the body was readying a stadium in
Cimahi, West Java, to host Tuesday's matches if police refused
permission for the games to go ahead or trouble flared.

Besoes said the games would be held in Cimahi, 180 kilometers
southeast of here, on Wednesday if Tuesday's games did not take
place as scheduled.

"If solething disadvantageous happens, we will immediately
evacuate (the matches) and the matches will be resumed the day
after," Besoes said referring to Cimahi.

He added organizers have already prepared an alternative
schedule if the matches were moved to Cimahi.

"It is true that PSSI has so far not yet received a permit to
hold the event from the national police, but there are still a
few days and a sudden change can still happen," Besoes said.

Police have said they are reluctant to allow the match to be
held in the capital at a time when political tension here ahead
of the June 7 elections was high.

Past League tournaments have been marked by hooliganism and
violence between supporters. This year's season opener is
scheduled to take place at the Senayan stadium and Lebak Bulus
stadiums from March 16-26.