by Mizzima News
Friday, 19 June 2009 21:00
Rangoon (Mizzima) – Police intervened and arrested some soccer fans from the Thuwanna Football Stadium on Thursday after fans of both Rangoon and Mandalay teams went berserk during the Myanmar National League (MNL) Cup Grand Royal 2009 match.
Fans of either team’s began hurling things at each other even before the start of the crucial match between Rangoon’s Yangon United and Yadanabon FC of Mandalay. The teams are traditional rivals.
Police were forced to step in as tension mounted. Several spectators were injured following the fans going for each others jugular.
In keeping with the support of fans, both teams played with extraordinary zeal in the 19th match of the MNL Cup that will decide which team will forge ahead in the tournament.
A few fans reportedly evaded arrest as the Myanmar Football Federation Chairman Zaw Zaw and other officials tried to control the hooliganism.
The official sponsor of the Yadanabon FC, Alpine Mineral water Company, said they had brought fans all the way from Mandalay in central Burma in 10 cars and two coaches of a train.
“We arranged to bring 625 fans. They were transported by 10 ‘Myatmandalar Tun’ buses and in two coaches of a train. And there were over 500 fans of our team, who came to the stadium on their own,” a staff at the ‘Alpine’ Company told Mizzima.
Eyewitnesses said authorities beefed up security during the match, played on the eve of the 64th birthday of Burmese democracy icon Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. At least 20 riot police vehicles, prison vans and fire fighters were standing by outside the stadium.
A police sergeant at the stadium said that there were over 2,000 police personnel deployed for security.
Earlier, similar incidents took place between the fans of Yangon United and ‘Ottha United’ from Pegu division at a match in Aung San Stadium. The fans of both teams attacked each other with assorted items turned into missiles during the match. Following the incident, the next match was fixed at Thuwunna stadium, where the security is better.
Both teams, which have foreign players, ended with a point each as the match ended in a 2-2 draw. The two teams will need to struggle through two more matches before reaching the final.
Yangon United representing the Rangoon Division has been founded by Burmese business tycoon Tay Za, who is close to the ruling military regime. Yadanabon FC, representing Mandalay Division, is owned by Dr. Sai Sam Tun, owner of ‘Alpine’ Mineral Water Co.
Southern Myanmar and Ottha United teams are scheduled to play on Friday at the same Thuwunna Stadium.
Friday, June 19, 2009
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