... The government disagrees with the plan because the coaching of athletes has become the focus of our attention...
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Youth and Sports Minister Andi Mallarangeng rejected a plan of the Indonesian Soccer Rescue Committee (KPSI) to hold an extraordinary congress of the All-Indonesia Soccer Association (PSSI) on March 6, 2012.

"The government disagrees with the plan because the coaching of athletes has become the focus of our attention," the minister said here over the weekend, reminding all relevant parties to prevent a trap of polemics (in PSSI management).

The government, according to Andi, has since a long time taken care of the (problem of) PSSI, thus he would pay attention to coaching of youths and athletes who had raised the nation's image.

According to him, if mediation failed, arbitrage would be resorted to in settling the conflict, and it is in accordance with the law of sports.

Previously, PSSI leader fired four members of its Executive Committee (Exco) namely La Nyalla Mattalitti, Erwin Dwi Budiawan, Roberto Rouw and Tony Apriliani as a sanction for allegedly violating the rules of the soccer association.

They had been accused of committing the violation by sending letters to AFC and FIFA, and holding a meeting at the Novotel Hotel in Surabaya, East Java, to plan moves against PSSI policy.

The four Exco members had been dismissed by the PSSI`s Ethics Committee's decision No. 002/PTS/M-KE-PSSI/12/2011 dated December 26, 2011, PSSI, spokesman Edi Elison said here on Tuesday (Dec 27).

In addition, on Sunday (Dec.18/2011), 452 out of 580 PSSI members conveyed a vote of no confidence against the PSSI executive board through a national football meeting at Pullman Hotel in West Jakarta.

It will be clear through arbitrage who is wrong or right, the minister Andi Mallarangeng added. (B003)

Editor: Ade P Marboen
Copyright © ANTARA 2012