PSSI told to be firm over soccer bribery
PSSI told to be firm over soccer bribery
JAKARTA (JP): The government asked the All-Indonesian Football
Federation (PSSI) yesterday to follow its crackdown on referees
found guilty of collusive practices with probes of club owners
and managers allegedly involved in the match-fixing scam.
Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Agung Laksono told the
head of a PSSI fact-finding team set up to investigate the
scandal, Adang Ruchiatna, that the soccer body was badly needed
to take stern measures to restore public confidence in national
soccer.
"People want to see consistent action by PSSI in handling the
case. If there are indications that club owners and managers have
played a role in the scam, then they have to be punished," he
said.
Adang met Agung to hand over the team's report of its
investigation that kicked nine referees out of soccer for between
seven and 20 years. Another 33 referees have also been rested,
pending further investigations by the team.
The Jakarta police plan to take senior referee Djafar Umar to
court on corruption charges.
The Adang-led team also disclosed that owners and managers of
five clubs had been summoned for questioning but that there were
as yet no signs of their involvement in the match-fixing scam.
Agung welcomed yesterday legal action against those who
breached sportsmanship principles.
"If the law allows for them to be tried, then why don't we do
it," he said.
He said he appreciated PSSI's crackdown on the collusive
practices, but suggested that the federation think of measures
that would prevent such scandals from happening again.
"PSSI could raise wages of referees and provide them with more
courses to improve not only their skills but also their morals,"
Agung said.
The soccer body has planned a drastic increase in referees'
salaries.
A referee receives Rp 195,000 (US$20) after officiating at
three matches. They are also entitled to transportation and
accommodation allowances, taking the total wage to Rp 400,000.
If the plan is implemented, referees will take home Rp 500,000
for a single match, excluding the transportation and
accommodation allowances. (emf)