RI, Libya point at each other on soccer game sideline assault

The Jakarta Post , Jakarta | Tue, 09/02/2008 8:59 PM | Sports

Both the Indonesian and Libyan national soccer teams plan to file reports against each other following an alleged assault that occured during the 2008 Independence Cup international tournament last week.

Libyan coach Gamal Adeen Abu-Nowara said he was collecting evidence and witnesses to report the incident to the Asian Football Federation (AFC).

"We don't want to do this, but we can't just leave the matter," he said, as reported by Tempointeraktif.com.

Separately, the All Indonesian Football Federation (PSSI) is taking the same measure. PSSI secretary general Nugraha Besoes said that the federation was conducting an investigation into the incident.

The assault allegedly happened between a Libyan coach and an Indonesian official during the FIFA-sanctioned nine-day tournament final match between both teams in Jakarta last week.

At half time, the visitors led 1-0 after a goal by striker Abdalla Mohamed.

However, Libya refused to begin the second half, saying its coach Abu-Nowara had been assaulted by an Indonesian official. The incident resulted with a walk-out win (3-0) for the host, which was awarded US$63,000 in prize money.

Besoes said the Libyans were also wrong to walk out of the game. PSSI are still waiting for the National Team Agency's full report on the incident, which is expected to come within days, before filing a report to AFC. (dre)

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