PSSI bans eight referees for fixing soccer matches
JAKARTA (JP): The All-Indonesian Soccer Federation (PSSI) banned yesterday eight referees for between seven and 10 years as its crackdown on match-fixing stepped up another gear.
The chairman of a fact-finding team set up by the soccer body to probe collusive practices, Adang Ruchiatna, announced that R. Pracoyo and Chairul Agil from Jakarta, Suhartono from Surabaya, Sas Muryadi and Nasirudin from Bandung were suspended for 10 years.
He said Sumitro from Tangerang, and Helmi Piliyang and Khalik Jiro, both from Jakarta, were banned for seven years.
"They were all found to have been involved either directly or indirectly, passively or actively in the bribery case. Our rules clearly state that such offenses deserve punishment." Adang told a media conference.
The eight referees bear national level certificates.
Yesterday's disclosure took the tally of penalized referees to nine after the soccer body banned senior referee Djafar Umar for 20 years and dishonorably dismissed him from his position as deputy chief of the referee commission.
Adang said the fact-finding team would shift its focus to another 33 referees across the country and the team was expected to complete its investigation in the next two months.
The team has also questioned the owners and managers of five clubs playing in the Indonesian League, but Adang said there had been no indications of their involvement.
The clubs were Yogyakarta-based PSIM and Mataram Indocement, Persikab of Bandung, Denpasar-based Gelora Dewata, and Persikota of Tangerang.
"Collusive practices have tarnished Indonesian soccer and discouraged our bid for better achievement," Adang said.
The soccer body's secretary-general, Nugraha Besoes, and spokesman Tondo Widodo were present at the media conference.
Embarrassment
PSIM's team manager Prabukusumo, who was summoned in connection with bribery charges leveled against banned referee Sas Muryadi, asserted his innocence in the match-fixing scam.
"I have never met Muryadi and he has never met me. So how could I make a deal with him. Anyway PSIM drew with Barito Putra (of South Kalimantan) when he umpired the match."
Prabukusumo said his club was suffering unpaid debts of at least Rp 600 million (US$60,000).
"How can we afford to bribe a referee? We don't have enough money to even save the club."
Muryadi told reporters that he received Rp 3 million from an unknown man in a restaurant in Yogyakarta to help the home side win its match against Barito. He said he did nothing in favor of PSIM.
"I was forced that time. Djafar Umar told me via phone to help a friend without giving details," the 38-year-old referee said, adding that the money was then passed on to Djafar.
"I received only Rp 100,000 to pay taxi expenses."
Muryadi, a father of three, said he did not feel guilty for accepting the money.
Two experienced referees from Semarang, Riyanto and Widianto Nugroho, said they were ready to be questioned by the fact- finding team. The two hold FIFA certificates.
"Soccer is in my blood, so I will help the team uncover the collusive practices," Widianto said in Semarang yesterday.
An official from PSSI's Central Java branch, M. Saugi, hailed the local referees' desire to help the crackdown on collusion but urged the national soccer body to maintain the presumption of innocence. (har/emf)