Aris handed 4-month suspension

Aris handed 4-month suspension

Zakki Hakim, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

As Aris Indarto became the latest player to be banned as a
result of a soccer brawl, the national soccer association, PSSI,
pondered a draft regulation that would make clubs liable to fines
for their offending players.

The PSSI's disciplinary commission meted out a four-month
suspension and Rp 10 million (US$1,180) fine to Aris, saying that
the Persija defender had assaulted Persita's players at the end
of a 2-2 match between Persija and Persita last week at the Bung
Karno stadium, which erupted into a full-fledged brawl.

The commission also fined Persija Rp 10 million for its
failure as the host team to provide a secure environment for the
visitors. During the match, some Persija fans even managed to
pass through the security perimeter and onto the field.

The commission also issued a stern warning on Persija's Budi
Sudarsono for a false statement broadcast on TV that he had
punched a player of the opposite team during the clash.

Commission head Togar Manahan Nero said according to video
replays and eyewitnesses, however, Budi was not seen actively
participating in the brawl.

Budi told the commission during a hearing, said Togar, that he
had lied and his statement was just an emotional outburst.

The commission thus gave him a stern warning, as the statement
showed poor sportsmanship.

Monday's sanctions rounded up the spate of punishments
delivered since last week. Chilean Jorge Toledo of Persita was
the first, with a four-year suspension and Rp 20 million fine.

Following Toledo, the disciplinary commission suspended
goalkeeper Samsidar and midfielder Ismed Sofyan of Persija and
Persita goalkeeper Ahmad Kurniawan for four months and fined them
Rp 10 million each.

However, although the players received harsh punishments, none
of their soccer clubs were held responsible for their players'
violations.

Togar said the commission was preparing a new regulation that
would make clubs responsible for the actions of their players and
expected a draft regulation to be ready within a week.

Separately, PSSI secretary-general Nugraha Besoes said such a
regulation was necessary and he was looking forward to see clubs
being held responsible for their delinquent players.

The regulation could also extend to banning a club from the
league, for example, for failing to run regular internal amateur
competitions.

Nugraha said that extensive socialization of the draft should
be undertaken before the regulation was made effective.