We will also deploy military police personnel at several locations in the stadium."Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The All Indonesia Football Association (PSSI) has pledged it will act firmly against anyone lighting flares during matches in the stadiums of the country, including during the friendly match between Indonesia and Myanmar next Tuesday (March 16).
Hanif Thamrin, PSSIs director for international relations and media affairs, told ANTARA News here, Friday, that checks would be carried out multiple times on spectators at Pakansari stadium in Cibinong, West Java, where the match between Indonesia and Myanmar would be held.
"We will also deploy military police personnel at several locations in the stadium. Any spectator found firing a flare will be pulled up," he said.
Thamrin, who is also the chief of the committee for the match, remarked firm action would be taken because PSSI had been fined more than US$60 thousand by the Asia Football Confederation (AFC) for the flares lit by the spectators during the semifinal and final rounds of the President Cup 2017.
AFC, through its discipline committee chief James Kitiching, has warned PSSI that if a flare is seen again during a match involving Indonesia, the penalty would be a match without spectators for the national team, in addition to an increased fine of around US$120 thousand, Thamrin revealed.
"We have asked all parties to help prevent flares being brought into the stadium. If any spectator or a media person sees persons lighting flares, they can document it and report it to the PSSI," he said.
The match between Indonesia and Myanmar is scheduled for 4pm in Pakansari. Indonesias new national coach Lius Milla has prepared 26 players, who were recruited after conducting three selections rounds since the end of February for the match.
(Reported by Michael Siahaan/Uu.H-YH/INE/KR-BSR/B003)
Editor: Priyambodo RH
Copyright © ANTARA 2017
