Azwar prepared to quit as PSSI chairman
Azwar prepared to quit as PSSI chairman
JAKARTA (JP): All Indonesian Soccer Federation (PSSI) chairman
Azwar Anas took the blame on Sunday for Indonesia's farcical
defeat to Thailand in their Tiger Cup group match, saying he was
prepared to step down on account of it.
Azwar made his comments on welcoming the national soccer team
back from the tournament in Vietnam, in which it finished third
after beating Thailand on penalties in the third-place playoff.
"If people want me to resign due to the bizarre match, then I
will be ready to quit as the federation's chairman," Azwar said
as quoted by Antara, adding that he asked for soccer fans'
forgiveness for the team's failure to win the tournament as
promised.
Coach Rusdy Bahalwan and team manager Andrie Amin asked to
resign on Saturday.
Criticism poured in on the Indonesian team after midfielder
Mursyid Effendy deliberately scored an own goal to give Thailand
a 3-2 win and thus Indonesia avoided host Vietnam in the
semifinals. Rusdy defended his squad's own goal, saying his
players were angry with Thailand's lackluster play.
Indonesia and Thailand were fined US$40,000 each by the ASEAN
Football Federation for their unsportsmanlike conduct.
Ironically, Indonesia crashed to Singapore in the semifinals.
The Lions went on to win the Cup after defeating Vietnam 1-0 in
the final.
The Indonesian team received a quiet welcome at Soekarno-Hatta
International Airport. On their arrival, the players were whisked
to the VIP room, where dozens of reporters and the players'
families were waiting.
The players left the airport by their own transportation as
the federation did not provide them a bus, as it used to.
It had previously been expected that some people would greet
the team with cynical remarks or even rotten eggs.
That did not transpire. Instead, apathy reigned and nobody
seemed to care about the team's arrival.
In Yogyakarta, State Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs
Agung Laksono said on Sunday that the resignation of Andrie and
Rusdy was not enough.
"Both Andrie and Rusdy must publicly explain their team's
weird showing. I myself am waiting for their explanation," Agung
said after attending the inauguration ceremony of some professors
at Gadjah Mada University.
Following the group game defeat to Thailand, the National
Sports Council announced it would not send the soccer team to the
Asian Games in Bangkok this December.
But Thai Deputy Prime Minister Bhichai Ratakul said he had
asked Indonesia to reconsider withdrawing the team. AFP reported
that in his message conveyed through Indonesia's ambassador in
Bangkok, Bhichai said Indonesia should send the team for the sake
of ASEAN "spirit." (44/lnt)