Promoter withdraws from Indonesian soccer league

JAKARTA (JP): The promoter of the All Indonesian Soccer Federation (PSSI), has decided to withdraw from the soccer league, citing problems finding a financial sponsor.

PT Cipta Citra Sportindo said in its statement to PSSI that it had been unable to sign a main sponsor before yesterday's deadline and that it would hand over the problem to the federation.

"We have received information that the promoter failed to find a main sponsor for the Indonesian league. In such a situation, it is difficult to find another company which can promote the league's tournaments," Nirwan Dermawan Bakrie, the federation's technical director, said Tuesday.

Nirwan said that such an announcement from the promoter would undoubtedly affect the clubs. "We expect the clubs to hold a meeting to solve their problems."

As to the league's tournaments, Nirwan said the number of tournaments should be reduced. But he stressed it should be discussed first before a decision was made.

Referring to the subsidy of Rp 5.35 billion (US$535,000) which Cipta Citra Sportindo was meant to give PSSI for the clubs in the Indonesian league, Nirwan said he was pessimistic the promoter would fulfill its obligation.

"With the withdrawal of the promoter from the Indonesian league, I am very pessimistic it will pay the subsidy. There is a possibility the clubs will not receive any subsidy. The only alternative which the clubs have is to find their own sponsors," Nirwan said.

State Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs Hayono Isman agreed with Nirwan on the subsidy and called on sponsors in the provinces to help the clubs.

"I believe there are sponsors in the provinces which could help their local clubs," Hayono said.

The minister said he was willing to act as mediator in the meeting between PSSI and the clubs. "I will certainly attend the meeting and hopefully it will get good results."

Hayono also hoped that the clubs would not dissolve themselves because they were not receiving the subsidy.

"Arema Malang nearly dissolved itself. But because it managed to get support from the community in Malang, it did not have to. Observing this example, I hope that other clubs will not follow Arema," Hayono said.

PSSI recently told the minister that it would hold a meeting with local soccer clubs on Feb. 5 to discuss mutual problems such as sponsorship. (lnt)