PSSI to settle debt, Tiger Cup to go on

JAKARTA (JP): The second Tiger Cup will remain in Indonesia as scheduled after the All Indonesian Soccer Federation (PSSI) agreed to pay its debt of US$28,000 to the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) by May 14, the federation's secretary said Monday.

Nugraha Besoes was quoted by Antara as saying that the organization had no trouble in providing the money.

"We are ready to settle the debt before the AFC Congress on May 14 and May 15 as requested by AFC secretary-general Peter Velappan."

The AFC threatened to switch venues for the biennial tournament next September due to the debts accrued from referees' salaries, fines and extra fees during the 19th Southeast Asian Games soccer competition in October last year.

"There are no more hurdles standing in the way of our plan to host the Tiger Cup, not to mention the fact our domestic league has proceeded untroubled so far," said Nugraha.

He said the AFC had not made good on its warning because it had not informed the Indonesian soccer body in writing of a revocation of its right to host the event.

Nugraha played down an international ban imposed by the AFC on Indonesia following riots which tarnished the SEA Games soccer final. "There is no problem with the ban because it will be lifted in May."

He said he contacted Velappan recently to inform him about the preparations for the Tiger Cup, scheduled to be held from Aug. 26 to Sept. 7 at the Senayan Stadium.

"PSSI will send a letter to the AFC requesting a permit to hold the Tiger Cup and informing of the competition rules," he said of his conversation with Velappan. (lnt)