T

he Indonesian Soccer Association (PSSI) has accepted world soccer body FIFA’s decision to impose sanctions against national squad caretaker Aji Santoso as a result of a verbal violation he made during a recent match between Indonesia and Bahrain.

In a letter sent to PSSI, FIFA said that it suspended Aji for four matches and ordered the caretaker to pay 6,000 Swiss francs (US$6,528) in fines as Aji was proven saying “[there is] money involved [here]” toward match officials in the bout against Bahrain in the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification in Manama, Bahrain, in late February.

In the February bout, which ended in a shameful 10-0 loss for Indonesia, Aji was red-carded by referee Andre Haddad in the 75th minute.

FIFA said in the letter that the call was made following to a report made by assistant referee Birak Ziad to Haddad that he earlier heard Aji accusing Haddad receiving money over misfortunate in Indonesia side. Such misconduct against a match official has violated Article 49 of FIFA Disciplinary.

The article stipulates: “The overall suspension imposed on any person receiving a direct red card shall be for … at least four matches for unsporting conduct toward a match official … A fine may also be imposed in all cases.”

In response to the sanctions, PSSI said that it accepted the decision and would not file an appeal for now.

PSSI legal director Finantha Rudy said that by accepting the decision, the sanctions are effective. He said, however, that his side would probably file an appeal later on, depending on FIFA’s final investigation result on possible match-fixing in the bout.

“If the investigation finds that there was match-fixing, we will definitely file an appeal of Aji’s sanctions. We will probably bring the case to Court of Sports Arbitration [CAS],” Rudy said Tuesday as quoted by tempo.co, adding that he hoped the investigation would be completed by next month.

Aji said that he took the sanctions like a man. “If FIFA said so, then I have to face it. The most important thing is that I can learn something from the Bahrain incident,” he said as quoted by kompas.com.

“I place my trust in PSSI to handle the whole sanction matter.”

PSSI spokesman Eddy Elison said that the association would pay for the fines.

“PSSI sent Aji to Bahrain on behalf of the country. This means that we will take responsibility for the fines,” Eddy told The Jakarta Post.