PSSI told to be firm over soccer bribery<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The government asked the All-Indonesian Football
\nFederation (PSSI) yesterday to follow its crackdown on referees
\nfound guilty of collusive practices with probes of club owners
\nand managers allegedly involved in the match-fixing scam.<\/p>\n
Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Agung Laksono told the
\nhead of a PSSI fact-finding team set up to investigate the
\nscandal, Adang Ruchiatna, that the soccer body was badly needed
\nto take stern measures to restore public confidence in national
\nsoccer.<\/p>\n
\"People want to see consistent action by PSSI in handling the
\ncase. If there are indications that club owners and managers have
\nplayed a role in the scam, then they have to be punished,\" he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Adang met Agung to hand over the team's report of its
\ninvestigation that kicked nine referees out of soccer for between
\nseven and 20 years. Another 33 referees have also been rested,
\npending further investigations by the team.<\/p>\n
The Jakarta police plan to take senior referee Djafar Umar to
\ncourt on corruption charges.<\/p>\n
The Adang-led team also disclosed that owners and managers of
\nfive clubs had been summoned for questioning but that there were
\nas yet no signs of their involvement in the match-fixing scam.<\/p>\n
Agung welcomed yesterday legal action against those who
\nbreached sportsmanship principles.<\/p>\n
\"If the law allows for them to be tried, then why don't we do
\nit,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He said he appreciated PSSI's crackdown on the collusive
\npractices, but suggested that the federation think of measures
\nthat would prevent such scandals from happening again.<\/p>\n
\"PSSI could raise wages of referees and provide them with more
\ncourses to improve not only their skills but also their morals,\"
\nAgung said.<\/p>\n
The soccer body has planned a drastic increase in referees'
\nsalaries.<\/p>\n
A referee receives Rp 195,000 (US$20) after officiating at
\nthree matches. They are also entitled to transportation and
\naccommodation allowances, taking the total wage to Rp 400,000.<\/p>\n
If the plan is implemented, referees will take home Rp 500,000
\nfor a single match, excluding the transportation and
\naccommodation allowances. (emf)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/pssi-told-to-be-firm-over-soccer-bribery-1447893297",
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