Irfan could be banned from soccer for six months, PSSI says

The Indonesian Soccer Association (PSSI) says star player Irfan Bachdim faces a possible six-month ban and a Rp 100 million (US$11,300) fine for refusing to train with the national team.

“I have told Irfan that if he was found to have violated the rule, he would be charged under article 78 of the disciplinary code concerning rejection of a national team call-up. According to the code, Irfan could be banned for six months and fined Rp 100 million,” PSSI discipline commission deputy chief Catur Agus Saptono said Tuesday, as quoted by kompas.com.

He said that any decisions on sanctions would be made in a discipline commission session.

“I don’t know when the session will be. Today, I am only asking for information and then will write a report to be submitted to the discipline commission chief,” he said.

The commission said that it had questioned Irfan Bachdim about his absence, but still needed to obtain information from Indonesia under-23 team coach Rachmad Darmawan.

“We have yet to summon Rachmad because he wants to concentrate on the national team,” Catur said.

Irfan Bachdim had earlier wrote on his twitter account that his absence from the national team was due to miscommunication and poor health.