Tight security for soccer semifinals
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.