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Persebaya suffers double loss: To PSS, plus angry fans riot
Persebaya suffered a double loss as it had to bow down to PSS Sleman with a score of 3-2 and apparently is being held responsible for damages caused by angry fans who ran riot after the match.
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Angry fans: Thousands of angry Persebaya fans run riot inside stadium following their home club's 3-2 defeat to PSS Sleman at the Gelora Bung Tomo stadium on Tuesday night. (The Jakarta Post/Antara)
R
ight after referee Thoriq Al Katiri blew the whistle that put an end to a soccer match in favor of the guest club PSS Sleman 3-2 against Persebaya Surabaya on Tuesday night, the scene unexpectedly spiraled totally out of control.
Hundreds of home soccer fans ran amok, destroying Gelora Bung Tomo stadium facilities and even attempting to pursue the home players, although the police managed to rescue Hansamu Yama and other players first.
“The police are transporting them in Barracuda armored vehicles,” Persebaya media officer Nanang Priyanto said as quoted by kompas.com.
He said the club had also decided to not attend the mandatory after-the-match press conference.
The angry fans burnt down a goal post during the brawl, which according to media reports, started because home fans have been disappointed over Persebaya’s current lack of performance.
The head of the facilities and maintenance division at the Surabaya city administration, Edy Santoso, expressed concern, demanding Persebaya pay for repairs, as was stipulated in the stadium rental agreement Persebaya management signed for the match.
“The club management should be held responsible for the fans’ wrongdoings. Right now we are still calculating the loss,” he said.
The unexpected riot happened as the country was attempting to show the world that it is a soccer-friendly place, since it has been "rewarded" by FIFA, which selected Indonesia to host the 2021 U-20 World Championship.
