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PSSI lacks sportsmanship, says observer
A locker room brawl which reportedly occurred during an Indonesian-Libya soccer game, exposed a lack of management and sportsmanship by Indonesian Soccer Association officials, soccer observer Isfahani says
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A locker room brawl which reportedly occurred during an Indonesian-Libya soccer game, exposed a lack of management and sportsmanship by Indonesian Soccer Association officials, soccer observer Isfahani says.
"It showed PSSI's poor organizing capability and spirit of sportsmanship," Isfahani added.
Libya had led the game 1-0 after a rough first half in the Independence Cup final Aug. 29 at Bung Karno stadium, Jakarta.
The team, however, refused to play out the remaining second-half.
Reports emerged that Sudarno, Indonesia's goal-keeping trainer, was provoked into punching Libyan coach Gamal Adeen M. Abu Nowara who strongly protested to the referee over what he deemed an ugly game on Indonesia's part. Reportedly Gamal had said the Indonesian team should have been handed two red cards.
Based on a statement from Indonesian team manager Andi Darussalam Tabusala, PSSI spokesperson Mafirion reported a different version of events.
Sudarno, he said, was in fact trying to separate Andi from the Libyan coach, both of whom were involved in hot argument over the game.
"Abu Nowara's glasses fell to the ground when Sudarno tried to stop the debate," he said.
Mafirion said PSSI was still awaiting reports from the National Team Agency (BTN) about the incident.
"Only then can we submit a full report to the Asian Football Confederation," he said.
With the Libyan team refusing to play, Indonesia was declared the winner 3-1.
While deploring the incident, Isfahani said Libya, despite fielding under-23 players, had played far better than Indonesia and could have won the game.
Indonesian players had taken the game too emotionally which had resulted in them badly handling the high-pressure game, former PSSI official Tondo Widodo said.
"The Indonesian squad, which has never achieved well in the last 10 years, were burdened with too difficult a task (of winning the cup) by the PSSI. When they encountered stiff opposition from the Libyan team they became stressed, which led them to play a rough and emotional match," he told The Jakarta Post.
The incident tarnished the reputation of Indonesian soccer, Isfahani said.
"Even though the Libyans were very provocative toward the Indonesian team, they (Indonesia) had no right whatsoever in retaliating with such a violation," Isfahani said.
Indonesian Sports Council (KON) deputy Hendardji Supandji said the incident was deeply regrettable.
"The incident was very bad, for both Indonesia and Libya. Hopefully, PSSI can settle the problem soon," he said, adding that KON had not ruled out summoning PSSI to provide an official explanation of the incident.
With its chairman currently serving a prison sentence for corruption, the incident comes at a time when the national soccer association is in a grim state.
