Persebaya chief gets 10-year ban from soccer

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Defending champion Persebaya's abrupt withdrawal from the 2005 Indonesian League soccer championships has brought a 10-year ban from the sport for its chairman Bambang DH.

The disciplinary commission of the Indonesian Soccer Association (PSSI) announced the punishment here on Thursday, Antara news service reported.

Commission head Togar Manahan Nero said that Bambang must take most of the blame for Persebaya's decision to abandon their campaign while the competition was still underway.

"Bambang is liable to maximum punishment as stated in article 27," Togar said.

PSSI has already handed the Surabaya club a two-year ban and Rp 25 million fine.

With one point from two matches, Persebaya, who were in the Western Group with Persija, PSM Makassar and PSIS Semarang, refused to play their final match against Persija after alleging biased refereeing and match-fixing.

Bambang also complained that dozens of the team's notoriously unruly supporters had gone missing.

With all four teams close in the standings, the pullout effectively ended the chances of PSIS and PSM advancing.

Persija from Jakarta were defeated in last Sunday's final by Persipura Jayapura, who advanced to the final after winning the other four-team Eastern Group competition.

Bambang was not present during the proceedings of the disciplinary commission. He sent a sealed letter in which he reportedly said the pullout was his decision and no other team officials were involved.

Team manager Saleh Mukadar and executive chairman H. Susanto were spared punishment, with Togar saying PSSI was only seeking the linchpin in the decision to withdraw.