INASGOC should boost security of athletes, fans at Asian Games

KUALA LUMPUR: The Indonesian Asian Games Organising Committee (INASGOC) should raise confidence on the security of athletes and supporters who will be arriving in the country for 2018 Asian Games.

Deputy Youth and Sports Minister Steven Sim Chee Keong said efforts should be carried out for Malaysian athletes as well as athletes from other countries competing in the championship following unsporting incidents against the national Under-16 and Under-19 football teams in the country recently.

“They must give confidence not only to Malaysian athletes but also athletes from all over the world who will be coming to compete in Indonesia. It is not only for football but for all types of sports. So we hope the Indonesian government to take more drastic action in this aspect.

“Sports should not be an arena to express hatred and anger when the spirit of sports itself is against violence and hatred as displayed as Indonesian spectators,” he told Bernama after appearing as a guest with former Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) president Tan Sri Tunku Imran Tuanku Ja’afar in ‘Bernama Today’ over Bernama News Channel at Wisma Bernama yesterday.

Earlier, Indonesian supporters were reported to have hurled bottles and various other objects at Malaysian players and officers after the national team defeated Indonesia in the semifinal of the Under-19 ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) tournament at Gelora Delta Sidoarjo Stadium, Surabaya, last month.

In the latest incident, Indonesian fans purportedly abused the Malaysian team at the U-16 AFF championship held in Indonesia.

Spectators from the host country chanted ‘Malaysia dogs’ in the match against Thailand at Joko Samudro Stadium in Surabaya in which Malaysia lost 1-2.

Steven was commenting on whether the national contingent should bring a security team to the Asiad starting from Aug 18 to Sept 2.

He said they would be discussing the matter if need be.

“I am confident Asian Games chef-de-mission Datuk Seri Abdul Azim Mohd Zabidi and officers accompanying our contingent will ensure maximum security as well as the welfare of our athletes. There will be some agencies involved,” he said.

Echoing the same sentiment, Tunku Imran noted that the Olympic Council of Asia would undoubtedly be giving priority to the security of athletes.

“I’m absolutely sure that the host and the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) are well aware about the security aspect and I think they have to be very stringent about it.

“In football, of course there is unfortunately a culture of poor behaviour spectators…I’m sure you don’t get such incidents in squash or badminton but it could happen when passions get overheated,” he said.

Tunku Imran also said the host must first identified the kind of spectators coming for the tournament.

“The host must know the unruly spectators and potential unruly spectators and perhaps banned them from the stadium. As you know, even in international football now, FIFA has blacklisted some supporters.

“I think a lot of country know who are the ‘bad hats’ and they should be very careful so as not to allow these elements to tarnish themselves and their countries. So it is very important for the host to ensure to have a good security,” he said.