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Hostility, not hospitality

THE ability of Indonesia to hold major international football tournaments has been called into question following Malaysia's cancelled training sessions on Tuesday due to provocation by home supporters. Chants of "Ganyang Malaysia!" (wallop Malaysia!) were directed at the national players as they worked out at the team hotel in Senayan after aborting their plan to travel to their training venue earlier in the day due to safety concerns.

Youths on motorcycles gathered outside the hotel, a short distance from the national players and unfurled provocative banners while hurling insults at the players.

The handful of security officers around the Malaysian team did not attempt to disperse the Indonesian supporters, leading to national coach K. Rajagobal to order his players back to their rooms.
The mob only left when a thunderstorm hit the area which likely prevented an escalation of the situation.

"When the Indonesia team came to Malaysia, they did not have to suffer like this. What have we done wrong that we deserved to be treated like this?," said Rajagobal in expressing his regret over the incident.

Indonesian supporters wearing T-shirts with insulting slogans directed at Malaysia are also a common sight at the Bung Karno Stadium with vendors enjoying brisk sales.

Comments by readers in the Jakarta Post questioned Indonesia's ability to host football tournaments after demonstrations and riots erupted over the poor organisation of ticket sales.

Indonesia put in a bid to host the 2022 World Cup but failed to make Fifa's short-list of candidates with Qatar eventually being awarded the hosting job.

Based on the happenings of the AFF Suzuki Cup final second leg, Indonesia will need a comprehensive review of its sport-related procedures ahead of next year's Sea Games in Jakarta and Palembang.


Read more: NST

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