PSSI chief not to mediate player transfer dispute

JAKARTA (JP): Chairman of the Soccer Association of Indonesia (PSSI) Agum Gumelar said on Tuesday that he had asked the body's arbitration committee to resolve players' disputes ahead of the seventh Bank Mandiri soccer league series.

"I will comply with the committee's decision," he said after briefing the team managers from 28 club across the nation competing in the league. The series will kick off in Makassar, South Sulawesi, on Sunday.

The committee, set up in December and headed by M. Djalil Anwar Pradjarto, is dealing with player transfer disputes involving Uston Nawawi, Gendut Doni Christiawan and Kuncoro.

The dispute regarding Uston Nawawi, between Persebaya Surabaya and league defending champions PSM of Makassar, has been a contentious issue for soccer fans.

Uston ended his contract with Persebaya on Oct. 1, at the end of the sixth league series. Two months later, he signed a deal with PSM.

His move angered Persebaya and Uston's family was reportedly intimidated by furious club supporters, who are well-known for their violent behavior at matches.

The committee's secretary, Andi Darussalam Tabussala, said on Tuesday that Uston had agreed to the contract terms, but the committee requested Persebaya submit additional evidence which could give strong grounds for a decision allowing them to keep Uston in the club.

"In chapter one of the contract, it is said that after the contract is over, both parties, Persebaya's chief Sunarto Sumoprawiro and Uston, can arrange a contract extension within 30 days. If no agreement can be reached within one month then the deal ends by itself," he said.

Just when Agum arrived at Tuesday's meeting at Wisma Bidakara in South Jakarta, about 20 Persebaya supporters staged a rally in front of the meeting room, demanding the retired four-star General fire Darussalam.

Agum calmed down the supporters telling them that the committee had not made a decision regarding Uston. He also said that Darussalam never informed the media that the committee had decided to approve Uston as a PSM member.

Agum said that, according to the new rule, Uston was free to leave if his original club did not ask to use the contract's option.

In the past, a player who has ended his contract should ask for a recommendation if he wished to join another club. Under the new rule, at the expiry of a contract, a player becomes a free agent.

The committee will also recommend Kuncoro, a PSM Makassar player sanctioned by PSSI after admitting illegal drug use, choose another club, as his contract with PSM had expired and he had not received a salary for the past six months.

Young star Gendut Doni Christiawan, who formerly played for Persijatim of East Jakarta, has also ended his contract. He had vowed to join Persijatim, and agreed on the deal but never signed a contract. He later changed his mind, and wished to join Persija of Central Jakarta. The committee has still not made a decision. (ivy)