By Wimbo Satwiko
Even with supporters from across the capital agreeing to play nice, Jakarta Police will not be swayed.
Persitara North Jakarta match organizers confirmed on Thurday that this season’s second capital derby will be played behind closed doors. Persitara is set to host rival Persija Jakarta at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday.
The first derby also took place in an empty stadium, with Persija winning 3-0 on Jan. 20.
“We met directly with Jakarta Police Chief Insp. Gen. Wahyono on Wednesday. He told us Jakarta Police would only give a closed match permit and the match must be played at Gelora Bung Karno stadium,” Persitara organizing chairman Fachri Sinaga said.
“We’ve already worked together with both Persija’s fans, Jakmania, and Persitara’s fans, NJ Mania, and we presented our security concept to the police.
“Still, we’re not allowed to play with spectators as the police are still worried that both fan clubs can’t behave themselves.”
Persitara plays its Super League home matches at Soemantri Brodjonegoro Stadium in Kuningan, but Fachri said police did not deem it fit to host the derby.
The match was originally scheduled for March 7, but police also wanted that match played behind closed doors. Persitara asked league administrator PT Liga Indonesia to reschedule it so organizers would have more time to convince police to allow spectators.
Not only did that plan fail, the move to Gelora Bung Karno is an expensive one. The stadium’s rental fee is Rp 100 million ($11,000) with a Rp 300 million bank guarantee, which organizers will reclaim if the stadium is undamaged. In contrast, Soemantri Brodjonegoro’s rental fee is Rp 30 million with no bank guarantee.
“Now we’re counting our losses as Gelora Bung Karno stadium’s rent is very high. I hope all football stakeholders in Jakarta can take a lesson from this experience,” Fachri said.
Jakarta Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Boy Rafli Amar said fans should learn from being denied their derby experience.
“Both Jakmania and NJ Mania have to contemplate why the police didn’t issue a full permit,” he said, declining to elaborate.
Authorities have reason to be concerned. In the last two months, police confiscated weapons from fans prior to Persija home matches. Before a March 26 match, 15 Persija fans were detained for weapons possession before being released because they were younger than 18.
Six Persitara fans were arrested on their way to a March 3 match for throwing stones as President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono’s car as it passed by their bus.
Police have also refused to issue permits for matches on the same day in Jakarta. The PTLI has rescheduled Persija and Persitara’s last league matches, with Persitara vs. Persijap Jepara moved up one day to May 29 while Persija vs. Arema Malang will still take place on May 30.
On the field, Pelita Jaya came from two goals down to beat visiting Sriwijaya FC 3-2 on Thursday. Richard Obiora and Pavel Solomin gave Sriwijaya a 2-0 halftime lead. Supardi pulled a goal back in the 62nd and Redouane Barkaoui equalized in the 65th. Marwan Sayedeh hit the winner in the 73rd minute to keep alive 17th-place Pelita’s hopes of survival.
Source: http://www.thejakartaglobe.com
Even with supporters from across the capital agreeing to play nice, Jakarta Police will not be swayed.
Persitara North Jakarta match organizers confirmed on Thurday that this season’s second capital derby will be played behind closed doors. Persitara is set to host rival Persija Jakarta at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday.
The first derby also took place in an empty stadium, with Persija winning 3-0 on Jan. 20.
“We met directly with Jakarta Police Chief Insp. Gen. Wahyono on Wednesday. He told us Jakarta Police would only give a closed match permit and the match must be played at Gelora Bung Karno stadium,” Persitara organizing chairman Fachri Sinaga said.
“We’ve already worked together with both Persija’s fans, Jakmania, and Persitara’s fans, NJ Mania, and we presented our security concept to the police.
“Still, we’re not allowed to play with spectators as the police are still worried that both fan clubs can’t behave themselves.”
Persitara plays its Super League home matches at Soemantri Brodjonegoro Stadium in Kuningan, but Fachri said police did not deem it fit to host the derby.
The match was originally scheduled for March 7, but police also wanted that match played behind closed doors. Persitara asked league administrator PT Liga Indonesia to reschedule it so organizers would have more time to convince police to allow spectators.
Not only did that plan fail, the move to Gelora Bung Karno is an expensive one. The stadium’s rental fee is Rp 100 million ($11,000) with a Rp 300 million bank guarantee, which organizers will reclaim if the stadium is undamaged. In contrast, Soemantri Brodjonegoro’s rental fee is Rp 30 million with no bank guarantee.
“Now we’re counting our losses as Gelora Bung Karno stadium’s rent is very high. I hope all football stakeholders in Jakarta can take a lesson from this experience,” Fachri said.
Jakarta Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Boy Rafli Amar said fans should learn from being denied their derby experience.
“Both Jakmania and NJ Mania have to contemplate why the police didn’t issue a full permit,” he said, declining to elaborate.
Authorities have reason to be concerned. In the last two months, police confiscated weapons from fans prior to Persija home matches. Before a March 26 match, 15 Persija fans were detained for weapons possession before being released because they were younger than 18.
Six Persitara fans were arrested on their way to a March 3 match for throwing stones as President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono’s car as it passed by their bus.
Police have also refused to issue permits for matches on the same day in Jakarta. The PTLI has rescheduled Persija and Persitara’s last league matches, with Persitara vs. Persijap Jepara moved up one day to May 29 while Persija vs. Arema Malang will still take place on May 30.
On the field, Pelita Jaya came from two goals down to beat visiting Sriwijaya FC 3-2 on Thursday. Richard Obiora and Pavel Solomin gave Sriwijaya a 2-0 halftime lead. Supardi pulled a goal back in the 62nd and Redouane Barkaoui equalized in the 65th. Marwan Sayedeh hit the winner in the 73rd minute to keep alive 17th-place Pelita’s hopes of survival.
Source: http://www.thejakartaglobe.com