JAKARTA (5 Jan 2011) – The battle between the FA of Indonesia (PSSI) and the newly-formed Indonesian Premier League is heating up.
Max Boboy, the legal director of the PSSI, said this week that players under contract to Indonesian Super League (ISL) clubs that are defecting to the rival IPL could leave their clubs without any legal worries because the upstart competition is not sanctioned by PSSI.
“The players from former Indonesian Super League clubs Persema Malang, Persibo Bojonegoro and PSM Makassar are free to go and can void their contracts without any fear of legal problems,” Max said.
But Max insisted that the IPL was illegal because the league was not sanctioned by PSSI.
PSSI, which sanctions the long established Indonesian Super League, also plans to give IPL players legal assistance if they wish to leave their respective clubs, while league organizer Liga Indonesia will try to find them new clubs.
The IPL, which is backed by oil tycoon Arifin Panigoro and will feature 19 clubs, is scheduled to be inaugurated at Manahan Stadium, Solo, on Saturday, with a match between Solo FC and Persema, one of the three ISL teams defecting to the IPL.
PSSI secretary general Nugraha Besoes said he received official resignation letters from the three clubs last week.
“The clubs confirmed their resignations from the Indonesian Super League. For that reason, they will be relegated to the Premier Division if they decide to rejoin the competition again next season,” Nugraha said.
“I can’t say anything about sanctions (on the clubs and players) right now because they have yet to play in an illegal event. But if it happens, (PSSI’s) Executive Committee will convene to discuss the sanctions, and the most severe penalty is to be expelled from the federation.”
PSSI chairman Nurdin Halid said last week that IPL players would be banned from playing in the national team.
Meanwhile, the IPL has secured TV station Indosiar as its broadcast partner. The network will air two matches every week throughout the season, starting Saturday.
SOURCE: Jakarta Globe
