"The riot shows that people`s sportsmanship is still weak," he said.
Thohari said rioting by a losing group did not only occur in Nabire, Papua or in a boxing match but it may also happen anywhere.
He said the incident may also occur in other events including in a political stage, such as local elections.
"In local elections, it has often occurred the losing side who could not accept their defeat provoked supporters to create unrest," he said.
He said awareness of sportsmanship can not be achieved instantly but it must be developed from an early age and continuously at home in schools and the community.
Meanwhile, the National Police spokesperson Insp. Gen. Ronny F. Sompie said that the riot in Nabire was triggered by supporters` discontent following the defeat of their boxer.
"A riot in Nabire Sport Stadium occurred after a match between Mawa Boxing Gym`s Yulianus Pigome and Persada Boxing Gym`s Alpius Komkone in the sixth day of the event," he said here on Monday.
Sompie said Pigome`s supporters could not accept the defeat of their idol and then one of them threw a chair at the referee and to the direction of spectators triggering the riot.
He said the situation was also compounded by overcapacity as the number of spectators reached 1,500 while the stadium is actually only able to accommodate 800 people.
"The riot has made spectators to scramble out of the stadium causing a stampede," he said.(*)
Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2013
