Tight security for soccer semifinals

By Dwiatmanta

JAKARTA (JP): Security chiefs promised yesterday to deploy all their personnel to cover tomorrow's soccer semifinals as anxiety mounted over likely trouble in the rush for seats.

City military spokesman Lt. Col. D.J. Nachrowi said all 7,500 troops and police reserved for the SEA Games would be assigned to maintain order during the matches, particularly the one pitting Indonesia against Singapore.

"We are sorry that we will have to apply stricter measures; it is mainly because the country's pride is at stake," Nachrowi said.

The secretary-general of the Indonesian football association, Noegraha Besoes, has predicted that up to 200,000 people will flock to the 110,000-seat Senayan Stadium to support the Indonesian team, which is eying its first Games soccer gold in eight years.

If all are allowed in it would break the world record for a soccer international crowd. The current mark of 149,547 was set in 1937 when England played Scotland.

The record for a football match in Indonesia is 120,000, set when Indonesia played North Korea in 1976.

Nachrowi said the security forces respected the enthusiastic fans' desire to support their team but said unrest was more unlikely in an overcrowded stadium.

He said security personnel would prevent people from entering the stadium once it was full to capacity.

"Our capability, even at full strength, is no match for such huge crowds. Hence, we call on those who cannot get into the packed stadium to stay away or watch the match on TV at home," he said.

Unruly soccer crowds have already given SEA Games organizers a headache as they are prone to throw objects at visiting teams during matches, to the disappointment of the Asian Football Confederation.

Confederation secretary-general Peter Velappan urged the Indonesian soccer body to step up security measures after many missiles were thrown onto the pitch during Indonesia's match against Laos on Oct. 6.

"There are some people who want to incite riots, but we are not going to let them do that," Nachrowi said.

In yesterday's group B matches, Laos upset Malaysia 1-0 and Vietnam beat the Philippines 3-0, to set up a rematch of the 1995 SEA Games final with Thailand in Thursday's semifinals.

Singapore secured the final semifinal berth after drawing 0-0 with Thailand in group A. The final match in the group saw Cambodia beat Myanmar 3-1.