PSSI cuts Chilean Toledo's ban by three years
Zakki Hakim, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Chilean Jorge Toledo of Persita Tangerang soccer club had his four-year ban for fighting significantly reduced to one year, but had his fine increased from Rp 20 million (US$2,350) to Rp 100 million following a revised ruling by the Soccer Association of Indonesia (PSSI) here on Wednesday.
The PSSI appeals commission also lightened Persita goalkeeper Ahmad Kurniawan's four-month ban to three, but upped the fine from Rp 10 million to Rp 20 million.
The news apparently did not seem to have provided much of a moral boost for Toledo's teammates as Persita succumbed to a 2-1 loss at home to PSPS Pekanbaru in one of the four matches in the Indonesian league on Wednesday.
Toledo, 29, and Kurniawan were blamed for their involvement in the fight at the end of a 2-2 draw between Persija Jakarta and Persita earlier this month in Jakarta. Four Persija players and an official were also punished.
Ismed Sofyan, goalkeeper Mukti Ali Raja, Samsidar, Aris and Indarto, were slapped with four-month suspensions each while Freddy, the club's interpreter, got four years.
Persija has also filed an appeal, but the case has yet to be decided.
Appeals commission head Rusdi Taher said that the amendment of the ban was based on several aspects, including the player's competitive mentality in the heat of a game.
"The commission gathered, examined documents and forwarded testimonies before deciding," Rusdi told reporters on Wednesday. He was accompanied by commission members Ashar Suryobroto and Farhat Abbas.
Rusdi brushed aside favoritism in delivering the ban reduction. He said that the commission had not let the issue of nationality, foreign or local, interfere with the decision.
Most observers were saying that because Toledo is a foreigner, that had weighed on PSSI's decision to award the Chilean a far harsher punishment than the Indonesian players.
The disciplinary commission argued at the time of ban that since he is a foreigner, Toledo's offense -- he was said to be the main instigator of the brawl -- was a bad precedent for the league and could adversely affect PSSI's policy of allowing foreign players.
Meanwhile in Wednesday's fixtures, Pelita Krakatau Steel and PSS Sleman made the best of their home stands with Pelita blanking PSM, which has its team manager Kadir Halid suspended for contemp for three months last week, 2-0 in Cilegon and PSS thumping Persela Lamongan 4-1 in Yogyakarta.
In the other match, PSIS was held to a 0-0 draw by Persebaya Surabaya at the Jatidiri stadium in Semarang.
Wednesday's results: Persita 1 PSPS 2, Pelita KS 2 PSM 0, PSS 4 Persela 1, PSIS 0 Persebaya 0.