PSSI announces changes to the playoff system<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The All Indonesian Soccer Federation (PSSI)
\nannounced yesterday changes to the post-league playoff format to
\ngive the national team more time to prepare for the 2nd Tiger
\nCup.<\/p>\n
Federation spokesman Tondo Widodo said the changes would shave
\n10 days off the original competition schedule this season.<\/p>\n
But the organization will maintain the same number of teams
\nqualifying for the playoff. The four top teams in each of the
\nthree regional divisions will go through to the playoffs,
\nscheduled to begin on June 14.<\/p>\n
Unlike the original plan, the qualifiers will be split into
\nfour groups, in which they will play the other two teams both
\nhome and away.<\/p>\n
The top team in each group will make it to the semifinals to
\nbe played at the Senayan Stadium on July 9. The semifinal match-
\nup will be decided by a draw.<\/p>\n
The final will be held at the same venue on July 11.<\/p>\n
According to the original plan, the 12 qualifiers would have
\nbeen divided into three groups, with the top team in each group
\nplaying triangular, round-robin matches for the championship
\ntrophy.<\/p>\n
Tondo played down criticism yesterday that the federation
\nlacked consistency by always making changes for short-term
\nobjectives.<\/p>\n
"The new playoff system has been unanimously approved by all
\nthe 31 clubs competing in the league," Tondo said. "We are just
\ntrying to apply a fairer and more practical system."<\/p>\n
He said he was not certain whether the new system would be
\nmaintained next season.<\/p>\n
"There have been nontechnical matters forcing us to change the
\nformat of the playoff, including the General Session of the
\nPeople's Consultative Assembly," he said.<\/p>\n
The five-yearly session lasted only 11 days early last month,
\nbut it forced a one-month break of the league until March 22.<\/p>\n
National team coach Rusdy Bahalwan complained that he would be
\npressed for time to prepare for the Tiger Cup if the current plan
\nremained unchanged.<\/p>\n
The Tiger Cup finals, to be held in Indonesia, will kick off
\non Aug. 26. Eight Southeast Asian countries will compete in the
\ntournament.<\/p>\n
Also yesterday the federation announced a Rp 5 million
\n(US$666) fine imposed on defending champion Persebaya of Surabaya
\nfor its failure to control its supporters when it hosted Persija
\nof Jakarta at the 10 November Stadium on March 29.<\/p>\n
The fine must be paid by the end of this month.<\/p>\n
Persebaya was found guilty of letting too many supporters into
\nthe 37,000-seat stadium. The fanatic home fans broke down two
\nfences and spilled onto the pitch, forcing 200 security personnel
\nto be deployed to maintain the order.<\/p>\n
"We cannot tolerate the host's failure to allow a huge number
\nof the home crowd to invade the pitch," Tondo said. (emf)<\/p>",
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