Unruly fans mar soccer league match
JAKARTA (JP): Unruly behavior marred two matches in the 2001 Bank Mandiri soccer league's western division on Thursday.
In Banda Aceh, Aceh, security personnel fired warning shot to disperse soccer fans who turned violent after a decision by referee Zulkifli Hasibuan went against home team Persiraja.
The match between Persiraja and Semen Padang of West Sumatra ended in a scoreless draw after being delayed for about 25 minutes.
The incident occurred in the 85th minute after Persiraja's Azhari was floored by a Semen Padang defender in the penalty box, but the referee called a penalty on Persiraja rather than Semen Padang, Antara reported.
Persiraja players immediately protested the referee's decision, and some of them pushed Zulkifli before being separated by their teammates at Harapan Bangsa Stadium in Lhongraya.
Upset by the referee's decision, spectators began to set fire to seats in eastern bleachers. Some 150 officers from the Aceh Besar Police and the Mobile Brigade fired shots into the air for about 10 minutes to disperse the fans. The spectators immediately fled the stadium.
Players and spectators who remained in the stadium laid flat on the ground to avoid the bullets. The shooting ended after an order from Adj. Comr. Zulkarnain IB.
Persiraja coach Bustaman and the chief of Banda Aceh chapter of the National Sports Council, Zainuddin Hamid, expressed regret over the incident.
"It happened because of an incompetent referee. If the referee was fair, it would not have happened that way," Bustaman was quoted as saying by Antara.
He said Persirja would file a complaint with the Soccer Association of Indonesia (PSSI) over the referee's actions.
"Spectators in Banda Aceh are sportsmanlike. The incident did not happen because Persiraja played poorly, but because the referee was not fair and tended to punish our team," said Zainuddin, who also chairs the local office of PSSI.
In Bandar Lampung, two supporters of host PSBL threw water bottles onto the soccer field, hitting PSBL player Rudy Hariyantoko, because they believed referee Kaharuddin was allowing the match to continue for too long.
A goal by Filipe A. Cortez in the 87th minute led PSBL to a narrow 1-0 win over Persikab of Bandung regency.
Angered by being struck by the bottles, Rudy went after the spectators, followed by a flock of security personnel.
A spectator, identified as Buchori, reacted angrily to the actions of the officers and soon a heated dispute was taking place between the spectators and the security personnel at Pahoman Stadium.
"I cannot accept this kind of treatment. When the incident happened, I was about to go home," said Buchori, who was a tae kwon do coach for the Lampung team at the 2000 National Games.
He said he would report the security personnel's conduct to the military police and vowed to bring the matter to court.
In Bandung, substitute Sujana headed home a goal in the 75th minute to lift host Persib of Bandung mayoralty to a 1-0 win over Persita of Tangerang regency at Siliwangi Stadium.
Persib now tops the western division standings with 25 points on eight wins, one draw and four losses.
"We dedicate the goal to our devoted fans," Sujana was quoted by Antara as saying after the match.(ivy)