More than one month after downing tools during the Copa Indonesia final, Persipura Jayapura’s saga keeps getting stranger.
The Indonesian Football Association (PSSI) appeals committee met on Wednesday to consider Persipura’s appeal against the penalties it received for abandoning the match, but chairman Rusdi Taher said no decision was imminent.
“We haven’t reached a decision on Persipura’s case as not all committee members attended the meeting,” Rusdi said on Wednesday. He also said he had read Persipura’s appeal letter, and the committee would meet again on Saturday.
In the meantime, Persipura chairman Manase Robert Kambu filed a lawsuit in South Jakarta court on Wednesday. Among the defendants named in the suit were the PSSI, league body PT Liga Indonesia, PSSI chairman Nurdin Halid, PTLI CEO Joko Driyono and match referee Purwanto.
The suit asks for Rp 5 billion ($505,000) in material losses and Rp 10 billion in other damages.
Lawyer Pieter Ell said the suit hinged on three key points, the first of which was the selection of Palembang, South Sumatra, and the Gelora Sriwijaya Stadium — home of Sriwijaya FC, Persipura’s opponent — to host the final.
“The PSSI and [PTLI] appointed Palembang as the match venue under sponsor pressure,” Pieter said. “There was also a problem with the appointed referee. According to FIFA regulations, there’s an age restriction for referees to control a match. We found out that the 46-year-old Purwanto had reached that age limit.”
Rusdi said Persipura was pursuing the wrong path.
“I don’t think they understand FIFA and PSSI statues, as the statues state clearly that any football-related dispute will be resolved internally,” he said.
Persipura, the Indonesian Super League champion, was banned from the Copa Indonesia for one year after abandoning the final against Sriwijaya, which it lost 4-1, on June 28.
It must pay back all match fees and prize money from the competition. It stands to lose up to Rp 1.6 billion in fines, match fees and bonuses.
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