Failed to be persuaded, Police Fired Tear Gas to Disband Riot at Jatidiri Stadium, Semarang

Semarang Police Chief Kombes Pol Irwan Anwar (ANTARA)

SEMARANG - The police finally fired tear gas to disperse the riotous football fans when they were about to enter the Jatidiri Stadium, Semarang during PSIS Semarang against Persis Solo, Friday 17 February.

Head of Semarang Big City Police Commissioner Irwan Anwar said the police fired tear gas to disperse Semarang PSIS supporters who were determined to come to the Jatidiri Stadium in Semarang to watch the match against Persis Solo after failing to make persuasive efforts.

"Even when the crowd started throwing stones at the officers, we still warned them verbally to disperse", Irwan was quoted as saying by ANTARA, Friday, February 17 after the PSIS vs Persis game.

He explained that the clash between the police and PSIS Semarang supporters took place outside the Jatidiri Stadium Gate.

According to him, the masses forced their way into the stadium to watch the match which was held without spectators.

Irwan confirmed that none of the more than a thousand PSIS supporters who came to the stadium had tickets.

Strict action, he said, was carried out by officers by the security measures taken.

He said the reason for the police recommending this match without spectators was based on the history of the two teams' meetings.

In the past, he continued, when PSIS played Solo there was an attack on spectators from Semarang when they returned home.

This, he said, is suspected to be a trigger for retaliation when spectators from Solo come to Semarang.

In addition, according to him, the results of the evaluation of the match between PSIS and Persib Bandung will be taken into consideration in providing security recommendations.

"During the match against Persib, the stadium's doors were broken into by Semarang spectators", he said.

These considerations, he said, were the reason for the isolation of PSIS supporters who came to the stadium.

Previously, chaos between PSIS Semarang supporters and police personnel occurred in front of the Jatidiri Stadium in Semarang during the match against Persis Solo.

PSIS supporters were determined to come to the stadium even though the match was held without spectators. The PSIS match against Persis itself ended with a score of 1-1.