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View all search resultsLPI rejects PSSI offer to become third division
The newly formed Indonesian Premier League (LPI) has rejected an offer to join the Indonesian Soccer Association (PSSI) and become its third division
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T
he newly formed Indonesian Premier League (LPI) has rejected an offer to join the Indonesian Soccer Association (PSSI) and become its third division.
“Months before the LPI started, we casually met with PSSI official Andi Darusallam Tabusalla and secretary-general Nugraha Besoes to discuss the league. But, they rejected even the idea.
“We also sent the PSSI a letter on Dec. 22. asking them for a consultative session about the LPI. They still rejected us, saying the league would be against FIFA and PSSI statutes.
“At that time there was no talk of making the LPI a third division,” LPI spokesperson Abi Hasantoso told The Jakarta Post on Tuesday.
Abi also corrected Nugraha’s quote from a letter from FIFA, which was sent on March 3 regarding the dispute between the PSSI and LPI.
“It should have said ‘regain control’, not ‘retake control’ as [Nugraha] said. The two words have a different meaning,” Abi said.
An excerpt from FIFA’s letter was published on FIFA.com: “The PSSI should organize the general assembly on March 26, 2011, to elect the electoral commission and adopt an electoral code based on the FIFA standard electoral code. The electoral commission will then organize elections before April 30, 2011. In addition, if the PSSI is not able to regain control of the breakaway league, the case will be submitted to the FIFA Executive Committee for a potential suspension.”
On Monday, Nugraha said if the LPI was willing to join the PSSI, it should be in the third division.
Nugraha also claimed that the wording regarding further actions by the PSSI toward the LPI was indeed “retake control”.
In a Monday telephone interview with the Post, Nugraha read part of FIFA’s letter: “FIFA is very concerned about the breakaway league, which seemingly still continues to organize competitions despite FIFA’s warnings and the sanctions imposed by the PSSI on some league members.
“Under these circumstances, and if the PSSI is not able to retake control of the said league in the near future, the case will be referred again to the FIFA Executive Committee for a potential suspension of the PSSI,” the letter said.
The LPI, initiated by oil tycoon Arifin Panigoro, is a rival to the PSSI’s Indonesian Super League. It says it is a nationally competitive group that promotes financial independence in soccer clubs nationwide.
