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)