PSSI warns against bribery in league quarters

PSSI warns against bribery in league quarters

JAKARTA (JP): In a preemptive strike to avoid match-fixing
scandals here, the Soccer Association of Indonesia (PSSI) has
warned the Bank Mandiri national league quarterfinalists against
accepting money from gamblers.

PSSI spokesman Eddy Elison said on Thursday the association
would take stern measures against anyone who was found guilty of
accepting bribes.

"According to Decree No. 67/93, anyone who is found guilty of
bribery will be banned from participating in national and
international soccer events for life and will be fined Rp 20
million (US$1,762)," he said.

The league quarterfinals will start after the Southeast Asian
(SEA) Games in Kuala Lumpur, which will end on Sept. 17. Teams
are entering the final days of the league's second qualification
round, which ends on Aug. 5.

Eddy said PSSI would intensify its scrutiny of the eight teams
in the competition to avoid any scandals.

"PSSI doesn't want to take any risk as we are at a very
crucial moment. Intensifying our scrutiny of the teams is a way
to anticipate possible incidents of bribery," he said.

PSSI has received anonymous phone calls that local gamblers
will bet on certain teams in the league.

"In the absence of the English Premiership and Italian Serie A
on TV stations, gamblers are betting on the local league," Eddy
said, adding that PSSI was taking the reports seriously.

"As the secretary of the special task force investigating a
bribery case involving referees in 1998, it is my experience that
there must be an insider on the club when a match has been bet
on," he said.

Betting on local soccer matches has been taking place since
the 1980s, when PSSI staged two leagues involving provincial
chapter teams and semipro clubs, respectively.

Eddy said PSSI had yet to receive any reports of bribery
attempts, and hoped such incidents would not occur in this year's
league.

Winners of the both eastern and western divisions will be at
home for the quarterfinals. Defending champion PSM Makassar and
Persebaya Surabaya are fighting it out to top the eastern
division, while PSMS Medan and Persija Jakarta are in a race for
the first place on the western side.

PSM is leading its division with 50 points from 15 wins, five
draws and two losses, followed by Persebaya in second place with
46 points from 14 wins, four draws and two losses.

In the western division, PSMS is on top with 46 points with
14 wins, four ties and six loses. Persija is second with 45
points from 13 wins, six draws and five losses. (ivy)