Local players get light bans for fight
Local players get light bans for fight
Zakki Hakim, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Following a four-year ban slapped on Jorge Toledo of Persita
Tangerang, the Soccer Association of Indonesia (PSSI) announced
suspensions for three other players here on Thursday.
Goalkeeper Samsidar, midfielder Ismed Sofyan, both of Persija
Jakarta and Persita's goalkeeper Ahmad Kurniawan were handed a
four-month ban for their involvement in the clash during the
Persija-Persita match at the Bung Karno stadium here on Sunday.
PSSI's disciplinary commission also announced that the three
players were fined Rp 10 million (approximately US$1,180) each.
The Chilean Toledo, who was deemed to have initiated the
brawl, was also fined for his unruly conduct on Monday. The
punishment included a Rp 20 million fine.
Monday's reports said Toledo ran across the field and
deliberately assaulted Ismed.
The commission also banned Freddy, who is a translator for
Persija's coach Carlos Maria Garcia Cambon of Argentina, from any
activities in Indonesian soccer for four years as "he was
reported to have been actively involved in the clash".
Commission head Togar Manahan Nero told reporters in a press
conference after the meeting that the rulings were based on
reports as well as video footage from three TV stations.
Representatives from both sides were also summoned to provide
clarifications about the clash.
According to TV footage, Samsidar and Ismed retaliated by
assaulting Persita's players, including Toledo, while Kurniawan
was seen brawling with Persija's Budi Sudarsono.
However, the commission said it was not convinced as yet about
Budi's involvement and has planned to summon Budi for a hearing
on Monday.
Monday's hearing will also see more video footage from a
different TV station, said Togar.
Commenting on the significant difference in punishment between
the three local players and the foreign-born Toledo, the
commission's deputy head Edison Betahubun would only say it was
because the Chilean had apparently initiated the incident.
Edison admitted that it was also because Toledo had failed "to
become a good model" for his domestic counterparts, which worked
against the Chilean.
"To see a foreign player setting a bad example is really
disappointing and such a player deserves harsher punishment,
while for the locals, we consider the suspension as an educative
disciplinary act," he explained.
Due to the suspension, Samsidar and Ismed will be excluded
from the national team's trip to Saudi Arabia on Feb. 18 for the
Asian zone qualifying matches for the 2006 World Cup qualifying
matches.
Earlier, the national team coach Ivan Venkov Kolev revealed
that he had yet to call up the players for the matches, saying
that he would still need to monitor the players performances in
five more matches of the Indonesian soccer league.
The chosen matches are Deltras Sidoarjo vs Persebaya Surabaya,
Persita vs Persikota Tangerang, Persita vs PSPS Pekanbaru,
Persija vs PSM Makassar and Persela Lamongan vs Persik Kediri.
The squad is scheduled to have a training camp in Jakarta from
Feb. 1 to 9 and an overseas try-out on Feb. 10 to 12.
The tentative opponents are United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and
Jordan. Kolev will be assisted by his fellow Bulgarian Atanas
Giorgiev.