JAKARTA (AFP) - Indonesian football's long-running struggle against corruption has been reignited with authorities promising a new crackdown after a senior official was caught trying to bribe a coach, the latest scandal in a league scarred by mismanagement and deadly hooliganism.
But, dogged by years of match-fixing, violence and corruption rife at all levels of the game, analysts say the Southeast Asian country needs to do more than "lip service" to tackle the endemic problems.
On Dec 3, an executive member of the Football Association of Indonesia (PSSI) resigned after a popular television talk show broadcast a recording of him offering the coach of Madura FC a bribe of approximately US$10,000 (S$13,673) to throw a second division game.
Hidayat, who like many Indonesians only uses one name, has been handed a three-year ban from football and fined by a PSSI disciplinary committee.
"Match-fixing exists everywhere, in league 1, 2 and 3. The problem is that the match-fixing issue has never been solved and (perpetrators) punished properly," football analyst Akmal Marhali told AFP.
The PSSI announced the establishment of a special task force to address allegations of match-fixing following the scandal, promising firm action against cheats.
But critics like Marhali say there needs to be more than just "lip service" to solve a problem that so far seems to be out of the grasp of Indonesian authorities.
"Perpetrators feel like they have impunity because there is no law enforcement," Marhali said.
Allegations of match-fixing have swirled around Indonesian football for decades.
Indonesian defender Mursyid Effendi was given a lifetime ban by Fifa after scoring a deliberate own goal in a Tiger Cup match against Thailand in 1998.
The manager of Borneo-based Bontang FC, Camara Fode, received a lifetime ban for ordering his team to lose against PSLS Lhokseumawe, from Aceh, in a Premier League game in 2013. Players from both teams were also suspended.
The following year, several players from both PSS Sleman and PSIS Semarang were banned for life after scoring five deliberate own goals in the final minutes of the match to avoid a playoff clash.
Long-time fans have become so used to mismanagement and corruption in the game that match-fixing is considered an "open secret", Dex Glenniza, managing editor of website Pandit Football, told AFP.
Players, referees, and club administrators are all involved in rigging matches, he said, adding that although gambling is illegal in Indonesia, fans often bet through international gambling websites or local bookies.
Glenniza said funding shortfalls for player salaries and club operations, conflicts of interest within the PSSI and weak law enforcement have all made the game an "easy target" for crime syndicates.
Azwan Karim, who served as secretary general of the PSSI between 2014 and 2016, said the PSSI could not tackle the problem alone.
"The PSSI can only use its football judicial procedures," he told AFP.
"To have a deterrent effect in place, the government should be involved - the police especially."
While it has a low international profile, Indonesia has attracted some Premier League players, including former Chelsea star Michael Essien and Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Didier Zokora.
But Indonesian football has been tarnished on the global stage by a host of problems over the years - including months of unpaid wages and the deaths of at least two foreign players who were left unable to afford medical care.
An explosive row between the domestic association and government prompted Fifa to ban Indonesia from international competition in 2015. The ban was lifted last year.
As if to underline the game's struggle with corruption, former PSSI chairman Nurdin Halid once ran the organisation from his jail cell where he was serving time on unrelated graft charges.
Indonesia has in recent years also gained a reputation as Asia's most violent football nation.
In September, 23-year-old Persija Jakarta fan Haringga Sirla was clubbed to death by supporters of arch-rival Persib Bandung outside a stadium in the Javan city of Bandung.
PSSI vice chairman Joko Driyono said the association had a zero tolerance approach to match-fixing, and was ready to work with law enforcement authorities on the issue.
Yet, some observers of the Indonesian game are dubious this will result in firm action.
"No more cherry-picking, anyone who breaks the ethical code and integrity of football must be punished," Marhali, who runs football watchdog Save Our Soccer, said.
"The PSSI should no longer shield those who are involved in match-fixing - we know that some of those involved are PSSI people."
Tsukasa Shiotani's sizzling winner kept Japan on top of their Asian Cup group on Thursday, while Oman scrambled into the knockouts in a pulsating finish to the tournament's first stage. In Abu
Shiotani fires Japan past Uzbeks, Qatar's Ali downs Saudis
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp is relaxed about Mohamed Salah's goalscoring drought, saying the Egyptian forward remains a key part of the title chasers' attacking armoury. Salah, who scored
Klopp relaxed about Salah's Liverpool drought - Pulse Nigeria
Where Next for José Mourinho as Real Madrid Have an Itch to Scratch? Tuesday, 1 January, 2019 - 08:15 Former Machester United manager Jose Mourinho.
Where Next for José Mourinho as Real Madrid Have an Itch to
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer refuses to give up on the Top Four after dropping points to Chelsea Sky Sports Football Ole Gunnar Solskjaer spoke after his Manchester United side were held to a 1-1 draw
Manchester United Players 'Need to Fear' Ole Gunnar Solskjaer
Mar 08, 2019 · Tottenham's first competitive match at their new 62,000-capacity stadium will be against either Brighton or Crystal Palace in the first week of April. The eagerly anticipated news came as the
Tottenham's new stadium: First game confirmed as Spurs vs
Liverpool crushed Arsenal 5-1 to move nine points clear at the top of the Premier League on Saturday but manager Juergen Klopp still would not get involved in any talk of winning the title.
Liverpool`s Klopp Avoids Title Talk despite Arsenal Rout
Makeshift Barcelona side beaten at Celta and lose Dembele to injury Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez were among a number of high profile players to be rested ahead of the trip to Anfield, where the Catalans are aiming to book their place in the Champions League final for the first time since 2015.
Football: Makeshift Barca side beaten at Celta and lose
Football: China strips South Korea of Panda Cup for 'indecent' celebrations despite team's apology One of South Korea's victorious under-18 footballers with his foot on the Panda Cup following his
Football: China strips South Korea of Panda Cup for 'indecent
FIFA Says in Regular Contact With AFC Over Detained Bahraini Player The Australian soccer players' union this week called on the AFC to intervene to help secure the release of Hakeem Al Araibi, who plays in Australia but was arrested in November in Bangkok on an Interpol notice issued at Bahrain's request.
FIFA says in regular contact with AFC over detained Bahraini
Working under the assumption that the Hornets can keep Walker, we go through some possible avenues the Hornets can exploit to improve the team. Zach's idea is particularly outlandish, but it might be crazy enough to work.
Sophisticated HiddenWasp Malware Targets Linux | SecurityWeek.Com
Aguero goal and another clean sheet inches City closer to the title. or efforts on goal than Aguero, who kickstarted City's second-half siege by forcing Heaton
0 comments:
Post a Comment