More soccer referees face bribery charges<\/p>\n
MEDAN, North Sumatra (JP): The probe into alleged collusive
\npractices to fix the outcomes of soccer matches continued
\nyesterday, with an official of the All-Indonesian Soccer
\nFederation (PSSI) saying that two North Sumatran referees were
\ninvolved.<\/p>\n
Amran Y.S., head of the federation's referee and match
\nsupervisory affairs, refused to identify the suspects, but said
\nthey would soon face police questioning.<\/p>\n
\"We are out to carry on the anti-collusion drive to its end,
\nand will not hesitate to take heavy punitive measures, including
\nthe revocation of their licenses if they are found guilty,\" he
\nsaid at the province's legislative building.<\/p>\n
\"Club owners and managers will also be questioned if there are
\nindications that they were involved in bribery,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He said the moves currently taken by the soccer body were
\nintended to restore public confidence in it.<\/p>\n
Amran, who is also a youth activist, was here to support the
\ncampaign of a gubernatorial candidate. He joined a team set up by
\nthe national soccer body in 1987 to investigate a bribery case
\ninvolving officials of North Sumatran club PSMS Medan.<\/p>\n
He said a fact finding team recently established by the
\nnational soccer body had listed 30 referees across the country
\nsuspected of bribery and collusion.<\/p>\n
\"They won't be allowed to preside over matches in the upcoming
\nleague matches, pending completion of police investigations,\" he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
The league will resume competition Sunday, with 31 clubs
\ndivided into three conferences.<\/p>\n
A source with the North Sumatra soccer body, however, said
\nyesterday that at least seven local referees should be charged
\nfor fixing matches.<\/p>\n
The source, who requested anonymity, identified five of the
\nseven referees as Zai, Nga, Has, Nor and Asw.<\/p>\n
He said the seven referees came under scrutiny after the
\nprovincial soccer body found that their licenses were invalid.<\/p>\n
In Jakarta, spokesman for the national soccer body Tondo
\nWidodo confirmed yesterday that dozens of referees had been
\nlisted as suspects.<\/p>\n
\"Their involvement has been clarified and they will face
\nadministrative sanctions,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Tondo, however, declined to reveal names, saying they would be
\npresented first to the secretary-general of the soccer body.<\/p>\n
Referee Arhan Armaya urged the federation yesterday to use
\nonly junior referees in the coming league matches, saying he
\ndoubted the morals of senior referees who had obtained
\ninternational certificates.<\/p>\n
\"Certificates and licenses are easy things to get as long as
\nwe own money. However, they do not guarantee good morals and
\nhonesty,\" he said.<\/p>\n
\"I've been working as a referee for years, so I know the good
\nand the dark side of this kind of job,\" he said. (21\/emf)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/more-soccer-referees-face-bribery-charges-1447893297",
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