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Jakarta Post

Sriwijaya retains Copa title

Sriwijaya FC retained its Copa Indonesia title Sunday after Persipura walked out of the match following a dispute over a red card slapped on one of its players

Khairul Saleh (The Jakarta Post)
PALEMBANG
Mon, June 29, 2009

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Sriwijaya retains Copa title

Sriwijaya FC retained its Copa Indonesia title Sunday after Persipura walked out of the match following a dispute over a red card slapped on one of its players.

Nurdin Halid, head of the Indonesian Soccer Association (PSSI), announced Sriwijaya as the winner of the national championship because Persipura players had refused to return to the field to continue the match, as quoted by Antara.

Jayapura's Persipura stopped playing 60 minutes into the game after disputing a red card slapped by referee Purwanto on Ernest Jeremiah.

Host Sriwijaya had been leading 1-0 with a goal by Richard Anoure Obiora on the 51st minute. Persipura tried to equalize until a Sriwijaya player allegedly committed a handball, which the referee did not see.

The referee instead issued a red card on heavily protesting Ernest. Persipura players then refused to continue the match and all went back into the locker room.

After more than 30 minutes after Persipura players walked out, the PSSI announced that Sriwijaya as the winner.

The match was also marred with a brawl among supporters of both clubs, with some hurling bottles at each other.

Sriwijaya got to the final after defeating Persijap Jepara 5-1 on aggregate, while Persipura, which has just secured the Super League crown, booked its final place with a 5-3 aggregate win over Deltras Sidoarjo.

The winner of this year's Copa gets a trophy and Rp 2 billion (US$) in cash. The runner up walks with Rp 750 million, and third-place team gets Rp 350 million.

Sriwijaya's managing board has pledged to share out 70 percent of the Rp 2 billion cash prizes to the team members.

The team received Rp 750 million in bonuses for their success in reaching the semifinals.

Persipura had eyed to end its reputation as permanent runner-up, having finished second in three finals in a row. They were beaten by Sriwijaya in last season's Copa.

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