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)