Probe continues into Friday football-related violence

By Raed Omari

AMMAN - A high-ranking committee formed by the government continued Saturday a probe into riots following Friday’s clashes between football fans and the Gendarme Forces and a stampede that resulted in the injury of scores of people, including members of the police force.

Meanwhile, persons wounded in the incident, estimated at more than 150, left hospital except five people, who were receiving treatment at public hospitals, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of State and Government Spokesperson Ayman Safadi told Jordan TV last night.

Meanwhile, the Cabinet discussed the violence which erupted after the match between the top two football clubs, Faisali and Wihdat, and “went over the measures taken to identify the causes of the incident so as to deal with them in a way that ensures enforcing the law and holding accountable violators on the one hand, and prevent the reoccurrence of such acts in the future”, according to a statement carried by the Jordan News Agency, Petra.

The Cabinet added that the government “will continue to take all necessary measures to preserve security, stability and the society’s spirit of brotherhood and coherence and protect all citizens, including civilians and members of the security agencies”, voicing support for sports institutions and federations “that work to improve the level of sports and highlight their prestigious image and that of fans in the region and the world”.

The council listened to a briefing by Interior Minister Saad Hayel Srour on measures taken, particularly the task of the high-profile investigation panel headed by the secretary general of his ministry, Saad Manasir. The fact-finding committee includes as members Amman Governor Samir Mubaidin, and senior officials at the interior ministry concerned with human rights, legal issues and security.

The panel, he said, is tasked with “investigating the causes of the incident, communicating with all concerned parties, and filing a report to the government so that it will take the necessary legal action against all those proved to have breached the law and caused the incidents”, according to the statement.

Safadi told the official TV in an interview, in which MP Khalil Attiyeh (Amman, First District) also took part, that authorities dealt with the “tragic” incident from the beginning with a “serious and clear approach”.

He reiterated that the government will take necessary legal action against violators and ensure that such incidents do not occur again.

PSD Spokesperson Lt. Colonel Mohammad Khatib told The Jordan Times over the phone yesterday that several vehicles of the police, the Civil Defense and the Gendarme Forces were also smashed by rioters outside the stadium.

An eyewitness, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told The Jordan Times that the match went on smoothly without tension between players of the two teams, adding that “fans enjoyed a thrilling match in which sportsmanship prevailed”.

Echoing the official story, the eyewitness said that right after the match, security personnel started by securing the exit of the Faisali fans from the stadium in a bid to prevent any clash among spectators outside.

“Then all of a sudden people from outside the stadium started throwing stones at the Gendarme Forces and the remaining fans, causing confusion and chaos among the fans and the security forces as well,” he added.

The eyewitness, a “diehard” fan of Wihdat, said: “The chaotic situation, coupled with the rush of the Gendarme Forces towards the remaining fans to restore order, caused a stampede leading to the collapse of the iron fence separating the crowds from the field.”

“I have watched hundreds of football matches in the country but never witnessed such an incident,” he added.

“Not only fans but also Gendarme personnel were wounded in the metal fence collapse,” he pointed out.

Commenting on riots outside the stadium, the eyewitness said fans of both teams were throwing stones at each other and at the police, causing “significant damage” to public and private properties.

“No one could tell who was throwing stones at whom… it was a complete mess, with police trying in vain to restore order,” he said.

Also on Saturday, Faisali Football Club expressed in a statement its sympathy with the injured, saying what happened after the match was a “casual incident” that both clubs should overcome.

Meanwhile, the Wihdat Club administration announced in a press conference yesterday its decision to suspend its participation in all sports activities until concerned authorities conclude the probe into the incident.

Srour criticized earlier yesterday the “provocative statements” by some parties, echoing a Friday statement by HRH Prince Ali, president of the Jordan Football Association, in which he said that the violent incidents do not reflect true Jordanian values.

The federation held a meeting yesterday to discuss reports related to the match, which Wihdat won 1-0, and reiterated the Prince’s statement and commended the conduct of the rival teams and the referees.

Srour added: “Those who tried to take advantage of the incident, raising provocative statements should have instead sought to ease the tension and restore calm,” pointing out that “their statements pose a threat to Jordan’s rule of law and its integral unity”, in an apparent reference to remarks by Wihdat Club’s president, Tareq Khouri, in which he accused the Gendarme Forces of deliberately attacking the team’s fans and inciting rift among the nation and threatening a “tough response”.

Yesterday, Srour and Safadi checked on the conditions of the injured at the hospitals, according to Petra.

Commenting on the issue, parliamentarians and politicians expressed their rejection and condemnation of the violence, saying that it poses a threat to the security and unity of the Jordanian people.

Lower House Speaker Faisal Fayez underlined that “these behaviors are against Jordan’s values and its integrity”, calling on the citizens to stand against all parties that attempt to harm national unity intentionally or unintentionally.

He referred in this regard to His Majesty King Abdullah’s emphasis that the national unity is “a red line”, according to Petra.

Senate President Taher Masri called on citizens to stand firm against any “evil” attempts that seek to threaten national unity, adding that local and regional challenges “should make us all aware that our country’s interests and its integral unity are top priorities”, Petra said.

Teams from Greater Amman Municipality (GAM) on Saturday morning started maintenance work on the stadium’s iron fence and the players locker rooms, which were also damaged, Petra said.

Director of the sports buildings department at GAM, Nasser Batayneh, said the maintenance teams were expected to finish their work by Saturday evening, adding that periodic maintenance of the King Abdullah Stadium will start on Sunday and will continue for two months.

12 December 2010

Source: The Jordan Times.
Link: http://www.jordantimes.com/?news=32549.