Players and Managers Punished by FAI

The Disciplinary Committee of FAI (Football Association of Indonesia) keeps its promise. As a result to chaos during the hot derby between Arema Malang and Persema Malang where the match had to be stopped in the 31st minute, the Committee punished five Arema players and two of its officials.

Arema's Chairman Iwan Budianto, General Secretary Lucky Acub Zainal, and right fullback Haryanto received the harshest penalties of the all.

Iwan and Lucky are prohibited from accompanying the club until the end of the league. That's because, according to the Committee's chairman Andi Darussalam Tabussala, "As officers, they should've been able to control their players. But they couldn't. In fact, there are some indications that they actually encouraged the players to be brutal."

Haryanto received an even punishment. He's prohibited to play in Indonesian football competitions for one year, plus a fine of Rp. 1M. This is indeed a harsh punishment, but there was a clear proof that Haryanto intentionally punched Persema's goalkeeper Agus Setyawan in the face.

Andi said that Haryanto's punishment is active starting Thursday, 8 March 2001, until 8 March 2002.

Four other Arema players are also punished accordingly, and they are Charis Yulianto, Kuncoro, I Putu Gede, and Joko Susilo. Each of them receives a three-match ban and a fine of Rp. 1M.

Furthermore, they also have a five-match trial. It means that if in the next five matches anyone of them receives a red card, he will have an automatic 3-match ban. But if nothing happens and they're playing nicely, then the automatic 3-match ban will be lifted. The Disciplinary Committee said that the four players were dishonorable in the match, pushing the referee around and were involved in the fight with Persema's players.

FAI Public Relations Officer Eddy Elison said that the Committee is ready if any of the party punished want to appeal. Persema Malang, on the other hand, does not receive any punishment on any of their players, but they do receive one as a team. As a host of the brutal derby, they're instructed to continue the remaining of the match on March 28 in a separate stadium and without any attendance. It has been confirmed that the match will be played at Gelora Delta Stadium in Sidoarjo, East Java.

from: Jawa Pos Online