PSSI sanction complies with rules: Official
JAKARTA (JP): The Soccer Association of Indonesia (PSSI) is awaiting PSIS Semarang's appeal of the penalty it imposed on the club after a melee on the opening day of the new Indonesian Soccer League (Ligina) season at Jatidiri stadium in Semarang on Sunday.
The PSSI official in charge of discipline, Andi Darussalam Tabusala, said on Wednesday the penalty was carefully decided on by his commission and complied with the association's rules governing the league.
Andi made his statement after reports on Tuesday that PSIS Semarang officials would ask the association to move its next two matches to cities in Central Java rather than to Bima stadium in Cirebon, West Java.
There will be no spectators allowed for Semarang's matches against Persipura Jayapura on Jan. 16 and Persma Manado on Jan. 20, which the association ruled would be played in Cirebon. The penalty was decided on Monday.
PSSI also rescheduled Thursday's match between PSIS and Persebaya Surabaya for Jan. 27.
The league's defending champion lost 0-2 to visitor Barito Putra on opening night action of the league's sixth season. Angry Semerang fans stormed the field after referee Jajat Sudrajat overruled an apparent goal by PSIS' foreign striker A. Jonnah Ballah in the 85th minute. Jajat stopped the match early and awarded the victory to Barito Putra.
"We will wait for their appeal for three days, but my decision on the penalty was based on chapter 37, paragraph seven of the league's rules. In point three, it reads that moving games is allowed when violence occurs during a game ... and the penalty must be decided on within seven days.
"In point four, the rule stipulates that PSSI decides the new venue based on recommendations from the disciplinary commission," Andi said.
"See, I'm not making all of this up. Besides, how can a punished team specify the kind of punishment it will receive?"
In a related development, PSIS Semarang chairman Soetjipto said on Wednesday the PSSI ruling would hurt PSIS and its fans.
"I hope PSSI will be lenient. For example, it can move the games to Rembang or Purwokerto, both in Central Java. We hope PSSI will allow soccer fans to watch the matches because the ticket revenue could relieve our financial troubles," he said in Semarang.
Soetjipto cited one of the association's old rules, which stipulated that if games were moved the new venue should be within 100 kilometers of the original site.
"I will protest PSSI's decision. The sanction does not comply with their rules. The decision has many weaknesses," he said.
Separately, officials of Persebaya, runner-up in last year's competition, expressed satisfaction with PSSI's decision to reschedule its matches with PSIS, Pelita Jaya Solo and Pupuk Kaltim Bontang.
"We are pleased the three matches will be rescheduled. We won't get confused arranging our schedule for Ligina and the Asian Winners Cup competition," Persebaya official in charge of athlete development Hartono Purnomosidi was quoted by Antara as saying on Tuesday.
Persebaya will represent Indonesia in the Asian Winners Cup, and is scheduled to kick off its Cup campaign with a match against Bangkok Bank in Thailand on Nov. 20.
The club's match against Pelita, which was scheduled for Nov. 18, has been postponed until the end of the first round of the season. It will take on Pupuk Kaltim on Nov. 25, one day later than originally scheduled. (har/ivy)