PSM Makassar denies exit from national soccer league

JAKARTA (JP): The patron of PSM Makassar soccer club, Nurdin Halid, confirmed on Monday his club would continue competing in the Bank Mandiri national soccer league despite the resignation of team manager Kadir Halid.

Nurdin also expressed hope the disciplinary commission of the Soccer Association of Indonesia (PSSI) would review the sanction it placed on the club.

He was commenting on media reports that PSM would withdraw from the league after being banned from hosting its match against Pupuk Kaltim of East Kalimantan at Mattoangin Stadium in Makassar, South Sulawesi.

The sanction was passed by the PSSI disciplinary commission following a disturbance caused by local supporters when PSM played Persma Manado on Feb. 27 in Makassar. The supporters threw stones and bottles onto the field.

In a letter sent to PSM chairman Amiruddin Maula last week, which also was forwarded to PSSI, Kadir said the club's organizers would withdraw from the Bank Mandiri soccer league.

Kadir accused the commission of being unfair in sanctioning the club, saying the decision ignored the facts of the incident. He also regretted that the commission did not postpone the decision to allow PSM to present its case.

Kadir said he suspected commission chairman Andi Darussalam Tabusala was intent on destroying PSM's reputation.

Nurdin said Kadir, his younger brother, had not withdrawn the club from the league but had resigned as manager of the club. He said it would be a waste of time and money for the club to leave the league, because it would have to return to the first division.

He said he could understand Kadir's reasons for resigning, insisting Kadir's resignation letter was not addressed to PSSI but to PSM's board of management.

Nurdin also called on the PSSI disciplinary commission to sanction Persma coach Benny Dolo and striker Maboang Kesaack. On video tapes, Dolo and Kesaack are seen pushing and punching the referees to protest their decisions, he said.

"I also asked the commission to look into Persma's allegation that PSSI would take sides and give the victory to PSM if the club played in Makassar," he said.

In Makassar, Maula, who is also Makassar's mayor, supported Kadir's resignation and accused PSSI of being unfair in sanctioning PSM.

Maula also urged PSM to remain in the Bank Mandiri league. "We have to support our national soccer development. I have expressed this to the PSM team manager, and he agreed. He asked for more time for internal consolidation and asked us to delay the match against PKT."

Hundreds of PSM supporters flocked to Maula's office asking him to cancel the club's withdrawal from the league. "If PSM quits the league, it will ruin the club," Herry Patti, the coordinator of the club's fan club, told The Jakarta Post.

He also warned of possible violence if Kadir insisted that the club leave the league. "If Pak Kadir insists on quitting, we can't guarantee his safety." (27/ivy)