Hospital authorities announced that the player, whose full name was Diego Antonio Mendieta Romero di Assuncion, died of a cytomegalovirus infection.

Romero had complained about pains in his eyes and head. A hospital scan revealed a virus was attacking his brain cells.

“After we scanned him, we discovered that a virus was attacking his brain,” said Ahmad Guntur Hermawan, head of the internist unit of Dr. Moewardi Hospital in Surakarta, Central Java.

However, fans and fellow players claim his fatal illness was exacerbated by his financial situation.

Jaya Rupi Noveni, a Persis fan who took care of Romero while he was sick, said that the Uruguayan often expressed fears that he would be unable to pay his medical bills because he had not yet been paid.

Romero had to stay in a rented room and ended up playing in subdistrict soccer tournaments to make ends meet while waiting for his wages. “He found it difficult to pay for his food, let alone pay for the hospital bills,” Jaya said.

Persis fans, nicknamed Pasoepati, managed to raise Rp 4 million (US$416) to help Romero with his hospital bills, which reportedly amounted to Rp 160 million.

Fellow foreign player Alejandro Tobar of Chile said that Romero was stressed about his financial situation.

“We once went to PT LI [Liga Indonesia] for help, but nothing happened,” he said.

Another Chilean player Javier Leopoldo Roca Sepúlveda said in his Twitter account: “One more person falls victim to the irresponsible soccer management.”

Romero is not alone in having fallen victim to financially stricken local clubs. Several players have complained about the problem, some of whom are unable to return home due to lack of money.

Two other foreign players for Persis Solo, midfielder Nicolas Djone of Cameroon and striker Mbaiogaoudo Dillah Appolinaire of Chad, have reportedly not been paid for four months.

Media reports in July disclosed that three African players admitted that their club Persipro Probolinggo had failed to pay 85 percent of their wages. A Korean player was forced to quit PSM Makassar because the club had delayed his wages for four months.

In October, Lorenzo Rimkus and two fellow Dutchmen returned to Yogyakarta to claim wages overdue for five-and-a-half months from local team PSIM.

The problems have added to the woes of soccer in the country which has suffered a rift that has led to the establishment of rival leagues and a breakaway soccer association.

Persis is a member of the Indonesian Super League which is not recognized by the Indonesian Soccer Association (PSSI).

Joko Driyono, CEO of PT Liga Indonesia, which organizes the Indonesian Super League, declined to comment on Romero’s problems.

He did, however, confirm that all expenses relating to the repatriation of Romero’s body to Paraguay would be covered by both Persis Solo and his agent’s company.

Former Persis Solo chairman and current Surakarta Mayor F.X. Hadi Rudyatmo said he would pay for Romero’s hospital bills, as well as his coffin, from his own pocket.

Paulus Haryoto of Persis Solo said the management would organize the player’s unpaid wages before his body was sent home to Paraguay.

Born in Assuncion on June 13, 1980, Romelo joined Persis this year and scored eight goals.

Romero had a stomach complaint early in November and his friends took him to Yarsis Hospital where he was diagnosed as having contracted typhus.

After a week in hospital, he was released and treated by friends and Pasoepati members.

Four days later, his condition deteriorated and he was admitted to PKU Muhammadiyah Hospital before being transferred to Dr. Moewardi Hospital on Nov. 27 where he was pronounced dead on Tuesday.

He is survived by a wife and three children, all of whom live in his home country.

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