Soccer clubs urge fans to behave at finals

Soccer clubs urge fans to behave at finals

Musthofid and Emmy Fitri, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

With thousands of soccer fans beginning to pour into the
capital, the four teams playing in Thursday's semifinal matches
in the Indonesian soccer league called on Wednesday for calm on
the part of spectators, while security has been reinforced as
part of precautionary measures.

Held at the 100,000-capacity Bung Karno Stadium, the
semifinals will kick off at 4 p.m., with the first game between
host Jakarta and Persebaya Surabaya.

The second game, which starts at 6:15 p.m., pits defending
champion PSM Makassar against PSMS Medan.

"Our supporters have generally become more subdued. In
Makassar, no objects were thrown," Ahmad Ahmadin of Persija said
in reference to the quarterfinals in which his team emerged the
group winner.

Ahmad was addressing a media conference here, which was also
attended by the other three teams and officials of the Indonesian
Soccer Association (PSSI).

Persija, which, despite being the pretournament favorite, has
ended up one or two steps short of the championship in almost
every season for the last decade. It has a large number of loyal
supporters called The Jak-mania.

"We have become more popular with Jakartans. Some of them came
to Makassar. Now here, we want to urge them once again to be good
spectators," Ahmad said.

Tension could increase with the prospect of misconduct by
Persebaya supporters, who have a reputation of being bonek
(penniless soccer fans).

Not only the organizers, but Persebaya officials ensured that
bonek were a thing of the past.

"We have bonek no more. The supporters will come here mostly
under the organization of the Surabaya Fan Club," Persebaya team
manager Karwoto said.

Team coach Rudy William Keltjes strongly appealed to Persebaya
supporters not to turn unruly. "This is actually beyond our field
as we have to focus on the match. Anyhow, I'd like to see well-
behaved supporters," Rudy said.

PSMS Medan and PSM also voiced concern about security during
the matches. Even though they do not boast so big a number of
supporters as the other two teams, their fans are known for their
unruly behavior.

Meanwhile, the organizing committee announced that security
forces would be reinforced with another 360 personnel in addition
to the initial 1,500.

"They (security authorities) anticipated the overflow. More
supporters (than expected) might come, which prompted further
assessment on how to counter the number," Eddy Elison, PSSI
public relations officer, said after the news conference.

PSSI secretary-general Tri Goestoro revealed that spectators
would have to go through tight screening before entering the
stadium compound.

"They will be searched for weapons, firecrackers and other
materials considered dangerous. Even bottled mineral water is
banned from the stadium," he said, adding that spectators would
have to exchange the bottles for plastic bags provided at the
entry gates.

Jakarta Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Anton Bachrul Alam said the
police had anticipated the arrival of die-hard supporters,
particularly those of Persebaya.

"We will deploy personnel at railway stations and bus
terminals to watch their arrival. This is not because we don't
want them to come here, we just want to maintain public order in
the capital," Anton said.

He said that soccer fans would be searched for any weapons and
explosives at bus terminals and railway stations and their cash
checked.

"Only those who bring enough cash to stay in Jakarta for a few
days will be allowed to go ahead," Anton said.

Bonek have been widely known for their behavior of resorting
to blackmail and extorting money from passersby due to their lack
of funds.