Jordan sets up panel to probe soccer violence

Author: 
ABDUL JALIL MUSTAFA | ARAB NEWS
Publication Date: 
Sat, 2010-12-11 23:17

Meanwhile, leading Jordanian politicians have stepped in to come to grips with any spill-over on the national unity of the turmoil that sent more than 150 people to hospital, including 25 policemen.
Srour said that all those injured had left hospital except for seven people who were still in need of further medical treatment.
"The panel will come in touch with all parties concerned to arrive at the full fact about the regrettable incidents and present a report to the government for taking legal action against all those who turn out to have violated the law,” the minister said in a statement.
Srour criticized "provocation” by some people and urged all parties to exercise self-restraint and abide by the law.
He alluded to the director of Wihdat Club, Tareq Khouri, who accused policemen of resorting to excessive violence against the fans of his club, which won the game 1-0 in the eleventh week of the country’s national league competition.
The government’s official spokesman, Deputy Premier Ayman Safadi said that fans of Faisali were asked to leave King Abdallah Stadium in southern Amman immediately after the game in accordance with a prior arrangement to avoid friction with their rival fans.
However, he said that policemen intervened afterwards against Wihdad supporters when some of them hurled bottles on spectators as they left the stadium.
Wihdat, whose members mostly descend from Palestinian origin, has a record of wrangling with Faisali at playing grounds that sparked fears of having fallout on the country’s national unity.
Jordan is host to about 2 million Palestinian refugees who enjoy full Jordanian citizenship.
The speakers of both houses of Parliament on Saturday issued statements urging all parties to assume responsibility and preserve the national unity.

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