YANGON: Myanmar football supporters tore up seats and invaded the pitch of the stadium due to host the opening ceremony of this year’s SEA Games, an official said yesterday.
Brawls brought a chaotic end to Sunday’s game – the first to be held in the Wunna Theikdi Stadium since it was built in the capital Naypyidaw for the regional Games.
“Violence at the Wunna Theikdi Stadium was mainly caused by some drunken fans ... they shouted and destroyed some seats during the match. Some even went onto the pitch. So things were out of control,” said Myanmar Football Federation spokesman Soe Moe.
The 2013 SEA Games in December will be the first major international event to be held in Myanmar since the end of junta rule almost two years ago.
The inaugural game, a league match between Naypyidaw FC and Yangon United FC attended by some 20,000 people, was called off before the half-time whistle after fighting broke out between the players and spread to the fans.
The Yangon team, who had scored a goal before the violence erupted, was declared the winner by default, as per local regulations, Soe Moe said.
No one was seriously hurt in the fighting, which saw some 150 seats and a stage area damaged, he said.
Wunna Theikdi Stadium is set to host the opening and closing ceremonies of the SEA Games.
The wider stadium complex will hold a variety of sporting events during the Games, including swimming, archery and boxing. — AFP
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