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View all search resultsAFF ticket sale delay leads to scuffle
Thousands rioted on Saturday at the Bung Karno Sports Complex after ticket sales were delayed to Sunday’s second-leg semifinal match between Indonesia and the Philippines
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T
housands rioted on Saturday at the Bung Karno Sports Complex after ticket sales were delayed to Sunday’s second-leg semifinal match between Indonesia and the Philippines.
Local organizers previously opened ticket sales to the general public one day prior to matches.
Indonesia supporters who were standing in line since early Saturday morning vandalized ticket counters and burned the Indonesian Soccer Association’s (PSSI) flag at the PSSI’s office inside the Bung Karno Stadium Complex in Senayan, Central Jakarta.
Organizers decided to give the fans temporary line cards for ticket purchases on Sunday, as reported by Antara news agency.
However, that process itself turned into a stampede as the number of temporary line cards was limited.
The organizers said that people with the cards, which allow the bearers to purchase up to five tickets, could resume their places in line on Sunday before the match.
Tia, a supporter from Bekasi, West Java, said that she was not sure about the card since the organizers did not give a clear guarantee about its use.
“I’m really unsure. But I already got this [card]. We’ll just see what I can do with it tomorrow. All I want is to be able to watch the game,” she told Antara.
Organizing committee head Joko Driyono said that he only had about 6,000 tickets, mostly for Category 1, which were priced at Rp 150,000 (US$16.65) each. The remaining tickets were allocated to be sold on Sunday, he added.
“We have distributed 4,000 line cards. Those who have them have priority to buy tickets,” Joko said .
Organizers stopped sales after ticket counters remained open until midnight on Saturday, saying they needed extra time to prepare for the match on Sunday evening.
In the first-leg semifinal on Thursday about 70,000 spectators filled the 87,000-seat stadium.
New favorite Indonesia said it was ready to fight the Philippines.
Indonesian team head coach Alfred Riedl said that he had even trained his men for possible penalty shootouts. “I, however, never wish for shootouts. Hopefully, we will get what we have targeted for in the 90-minute game.
Riedl said that his squad would apply new strategies to secure a space in the final.
Philippines team head coach Simon Alexander McMenemy said that the team would play offensively, adding that he would not be making many changes to the team’s strategy.
