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)