Indonesian soccer is currently preoccupied with police investigations into cases of alleged match-fixing in the national league. It’s getting more difficult for us to expect improvements in performance.
The National Police have named Indonesian Soccer Association (PSSI) chairman Joko Driyono as the suspected mastermind, who ordered three other suspects to damage criminal evidence. Also seized have been 75 documents related to match-fixing cases and Rp 160 million at Joko’s apartment, which is allegedly connected to the case (Kompas, Feb. 19, 2019).
Case after case continues to ensnare the PSSI. These cases, which have not been far from bribery, match-fixing and the soccer mafia, seem deep-rooted in our soccer culture.
This time, the alleged match-fixing was revealed by whistle blower Bambang Suryo, a former manager of Liga 3 club Persekam Metro FC. Bambang’s account and the discovery of a number of other pieces of preliminary evidence were followed up with the formation of Team 9 by the Youth and Sports Ministry.
In one of its reports, Team 9 wrote that some agents, those who recruited foreign players, were also involved in alleged match-fixing. From Bambang’s information, there are several patrons or bookies operating in Indonesia. Some are from China, Cambodia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, India and Bosnia-Herzegovina. Those who come to Indonesia are only accomplices (Kompas, Jan. 14, 2019).
The focus of these patrons, according to the Team 9 report, is online gambling, with the score lines set from the start. This initial evidence led the police to investigate the alleged involvement of Joko Driyono.
Bribery cases, according to Kompas news reports, have repeatedly occurred, throughout the 1970s, 1980s, 1990s and have continued after 2000. Various news reports from the 1990s cite that because of the many cases of bribery in the national league, spectator numbers at matches dropped dramatically. Because of people’s declining trust in the sportsmanship of our soccer, there was a match that was only witnessed by around 100 people (Kompas, June 20, 1996).
The basic question is, from whom do we hope the soccer competition will be free from the match-fixing, bribery and other disgraceful practices that tarnish sportsmanship when a number of PSSI officials — including its chairman — are named suspects?
The PSSI, as the Indonesian soccer federation, should seriously take care of itself to ensure the quality of the competition from a young age, so that it can lead to a formidable national team. Personal and group interests, which have had a lot of influence on the management\'s role, must be abandoned and be replaced with a determination and enthusiasm to improve the state of the nation’s soccer.
For too long Indonesian soccer has been entangled in various problems, meaning the country’s rich talent has been squandered, with Indonesia struggling to compete, even at the Southeast Asia level.