Coke Cup marred by referee decision

JAKARTA (JP): Aceh refused to continue playing against host East Java during the second round match of the National Coke Cup Under-15s soccer championship at the Tambak Sari stadium in Surabaya yesterday.

The score was 3-0 for East Java when Aceh quit the match. Aceh abandoned the match after referee Mugito flashed a red card to Riza Amri and punished Aceh with a penalty kick.

Aceh's captain and goalie, Masykur, accepted the penalty in the first instance. But after discussing it with the other Acehese officials, Masykur said his team rejected the penalty.

The East Java referee, on the other hand, staunchly pressed his decision. Aceh answered him by withdrawing from the game, which was 31 minutes away from final whistle.

As a result, Aceh was barred from playing against its next opponent, Jakarta, and East Java was given five additional points to make it 8-0.

Aceh coach Zulfikar Abas was unrepentant about his team's decision. "The referee wasn't fair," he said. "He was one-sided. We can accept the red card... But a penalty kick? No way. None of our players committed errors which warrant such a penalty."

Some other teams have also expressed disappointments because, as of yesterday, they have not yet received the promised laundry allowance of Rp 20,000. They are particularly upset about the fact that some ousted teams have already gone home without receiving the money.

The championship organizer said the money could not be paid yet because the All-Indonesia Soccer Association has not yet sent the money to the organizers.

Another incident blighting the second round's first day was that East Java's team manager was robbed by four men. The four culprits forced him to hand over Rp 700,000 and his wristwatch while he was walking, alone, to a nearby mosque. (arf)