Suspensions for 15 referees reduced

Suspensions for 15 referees reduced

JAKARTA (JP): The All-Indonesian Soccer Federation (PSSI)
marked its 69th anniversary on Monday by reducing the terms of
suspension of 14 referees and eight soccer players.

The officials were earlier suspended for periods between six
months and 10 years while the eight soccer players were suspended
from six months to six years.

Organizer Edi Elison said the measure was a routine procedure
of the federation.

He said the two-year ban on referees, A. Razak Umar, Aan
Setiawan and Syamsul Rizal was reduced to 16 months.

They were among 12 referees suspended following a match-fixing
scam during the fourth Indonesian Soccer League (Ligina) in 1997.
The others were Chairul Aqil, Pracoyo, Suhartono, and Nasruddin
who were banned for 10 years, Khalik Jiro, Helmi Piliang and
Sumitro (seven years each), Romadhon and Widianto Nugroho (four
years).

Two other referees, Usman and Nurrahman, and two players,
Arjoni Mulya of Persija Jakarta and Fadli of PSLT Lombok Tengah
were set free immediately after the reduction, Edi added.

Usman and Nurrahman were banned for 18 months and six months
respectively for their involvement in an assault on Arseto Solo
player Agung Setyabudi during the league.

Arjoni and Fadli also were involved in an assault during the
1998 Suratin Cup tournament in Surabaya, East Java.

Edi said the federation did not confer clemency on senior
referee Djafar Umar, who was banned for 20 years for his
involvement in the scam and was dishonorably discharged from his
position as deputy chief of the referee commission last year.

The other six players who were granted reduction were
Erwinsyah of PSBL Langsa, who was banned for three years, and
five players of PSBL Bandarlampung: Amiludin Umar, Hariyono,
Kamilus Karyau, M. Ridwan and Supriyadi.

The PSBL players were banned from taking the field for six
years after they attacked referee Tatang Suheri during the
quarterfinal game of the 1996/ 1997 first division against PSP
Padang.

PSSI was established on April 19, 1930, as an organization
which also served to unite the national youths who were involved
in the struggle for Indonesian independence.

The federation's members included soccer clubs from Java
because of the shortage of funds. R. Soeratin Sosrosoegondo was
PSSI's first chairman.

The federation is currently headed by Agum Gumelar, who is
also governor of the National Resilience Institute (Lemhanas).
(ivy)