Responding To Referee Mafia Issues In League 2 And 3, PSSI Referee Committee: Always Positive Thinking

The referee's decision in the match Persiraja Banda Aceh vs PSMS Medan in Liga 2 drew controversy (Instagram/@psms_official).

JAKARTA - PSSI Referee Committee member Jimmy Napitupulu and Purwanto responded to the issue of the referee mafia growing in Liga 2 and Liga 3 Indonesia. Both do not want to boast and always think positively.

"Yes, no, it (the referee's mafia in League 2 and League 3). There may be just a technical error. I always have positive thinking with anyone," said Purwanto when met in the South Jakarta area on Monday, November 20, 2023.

Meanwhile, according to Jimmy Napitupulu, the issue of the referee mafia often arises towards the end of the competition season, although sometimes there is no strong evidence. However, the PSSI Referee Committee did not turn a blind eye to developing issues.

"We can't prove that he (the referee) is playing. There has to be real evidence. It's hard. Well, this is all an example of offside, thin offside, right, except for the three-meter offside," Jimmy said, giving an example.

"Right, when asked if he could see from one match. Can (Yoshimi) Ogawa (Deputy Chairman of the PSSI Referee Committee) see that the referee who made this mistake was something or non-technical, couldn't," he said.

Regarding the referee's mistakes that often occur in League 2 and League 3, the PSSI Referee Committee will not be silent and accept input as an evaluation material. If this issue is considered a wind then it can backfire.

"That (the referee who proved wrong) will enter the evaluation, enter the coaching first. It is not immediately suspended or can't be tasked first. So, the team is looking for the fair. As if asked offside no. If so, answer yes. If not, yes, no," he said.

The PSSI Referee Committee's method of reading developing issues with several stages of analysis. First, finding technical errors. From there, an in-depth investigation of the problem began.

"Technical first. Sometimes the referee is not in a good position. Sometimes the decision is also not good. Sometimes with his assistant the decision is good. Sometimes it's also not a good position, but a good decision," said Jimmy.