TheJakartaPost
Please Update your browser
Your browser is out of date, and may not be compatible with our website. A list of the most popular web browsers can be found below.
Just click on the icons to get to the download page.
PSSI chief quits amid scandal
Unfinished job: Outgoing Indonesian Soccer Association (PSSI) chairman Edy Rahmayadi (left) hands over the association’s flag to PSSI deputy chairman Djoko Driyono following the former’s resignation from his position during the opening of the PSSI congress in Nusa Dua, Bali, on Sunday
Change Size
U
nfinished job: Outgoing Indonesian Soccer Association (PSSI) chairman Edy Rahmayadi (left) hands over the association’s flag to PSSI deputy chairman Djoko Driyono following the former’s resignation from his position during the opening of the PSSI congress in Nusa Dua, Bali, on Sunday. Djoko has officially taken over as chairman.(JP/Zul Trio Anggono)
Edy Rahmayadi announced his resignation as chief of the Soccer Association of Indonesia (PSSI) during a national meeting in Badung, Bali, on Sunday, saying that he had failed in his duties.
“I received no pressure at all to step down. This is the best decision for the nation,” Edy said after delivering his resignation speech as quoted by Antara.
The former Army Strategic Reserves commander said occupying the PSSI’s top seat had been the biggest challenge of his life. He took up the position in 2016.
“Match-fixing is forbidden, but we still have it anyway. Brawls still happen. It shows that I have failed. Don’t let one or two people ruin the PSSI,” he said. “Let us all pray for the future leader to prevail.”
PSSI deputy chief Joko Driyono will take over his role as acting chief.
Edy’s tenure was supposed to end in 2020. Joko will govern the association until the end of Edy’s term.
Nevertheless, members urged the association to immediately hold an extraordinary congress to elect a new chairperson.
“We need to [hold an extraordinary congress] for the sake of the PSSI. There is no other way,” PSSI Jakarta chapter head Uden Kusuma Wijaya said on the sidelines of the meeting.
Uden said the PSSI had hit rock bottom, largely because of the ongoing match-fixing case, so new competent leaders were needed to make the necessary decisions.
“The most rational option is to replace members of the executive committee. Don’t put the organization in the hands of those who are involved in legal cases. Let them clean up their own mess,” he added.
Umuh Muchtar of the Persib Bandung soccer club, which plays in the country’s top-tier Liga 1 league, said the best time to hold the congress was after the presidential election on April 17.
“So, the congress won’t be disturbed. Things need to be done before the 2019 season of Liga 1 begins,” he added.
According to PSSI statutes, a congress can take place on the written request of half or two-thirds of the delegations. It can be held three months after the requests have been submitted. If the PSSI fails to host the requested congress, members are allowed to run the congress or ask for help from world soccer
federation FIFA.
Commenting on Edy’s resignation, soccer observer Anton Sanjoyo said he had done nothing wrong since taking over the PSSI’s top spot.
“I’m sure Edy is clean, but I think he’s a naive person. He might have been deceived by the executive committee members,” Anton told The Jakarta Post.
The PSSI is under fire following match-fixing allegations in the Indonesian soccer league. The National Police’s antimatch-fixing task force has named 11 suspects — including an executive committee member, a disciplinary committee member and several referees — allegedly involved in match-fixing cases connected to second-tier Liga 2 and third-tier Liga 3.
The task force has summoned several PSSI officials for questioning, including deputy chief Joko Driyono and secretary-general Ratu Tisha, over the past week.
