PSSI cuts Chilean Toledo's ban by three years

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.