Violence, mismanagement plague Indonesia's volatile football scene
JAKARTA - Volatile crowds and violent fan groups have long been a hallmark of Indonesian soccer, left reeling from Saturday's rioting in East Java in whichThe sport is the country's most popular, with huge crowds turning out for bitter clashes between local rivals in the 18-team top-flight league, but the game has been blighted by hooliganism, heavy-handed policing and mismanagement.
Beset by issues both on and off the field - at one point two rival leagues each claimed to be country's top division - the country was banned from all international football by governing body FIFA in 2015 for government interference. Indonesia, which last organised a major event in 2007 when it co-hosted the Asian Cup, the continental championship for national teams, is also bidding to organise the 2023 edition after China withdrew from hosting earlier this year.A decision on that bid, where Indonesia is competing with Qatar and South Korea, is expected to be announced by the Asian Football Confederation's executive committee on Oct 17.
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