Harsh penalties for footballers

JAKARTA (JP): Local footballers who refuse to join the national team for this year's SEA Games will be given harsh punishments, secretary of the All-Indonesian Football Federation said.

Nugraha Besoes said after attending a special SEA Games meeting on Monday that one of the punishments will be that the footballers will not be allowed to participate in the Indonesian League competitions.

"This a national project which needs support from all parties including the footballers who have been given the trust of the federation. I consider their refusal as unethical without giving a good excuse. If the refusal is because a footballer hates the coach or they only want to defend their club, we cannot accept this," Nugraha said. (lnt)