PSMS Pillars Mohammadou Al Hadji Rp75 Million

Mohammadou Al Hadji (Instagram @dekourbel)

JAKARTA - There is news that PSMS Medan is in arrears for the salaries of its players. However, the League 2 club dismissed the news.

"If we are in arrears, it means that we do not pay players who are already 'sweaty'. For the case brought to the NDRC, the player's salary after his contract is not extended in the 2019 League 2 season," said PSMS General Secretary Julius Raja, quoted by Antara, Tuesday.

However, Julius did not deny that in March 2020, his party was obliged to pay the remaining salary of his player in Liga 2 2019, namely Mohammadou Al Hadji by the National Dispute Resolution Board (NDRC) of IDR 150 million.

It's just that he emphasized that what was at issue at the NDRC was Al Hadji's salary in the second round of 2019 League 2 or when he was no longer with the squad nicknamed the Kinantan Chicken.

Al Hadji was initially contracted in June-December 2019. However, after being evaluated, PSMS decided not to continue the contract starting from the second round of the 2019 League 2 in August.

According to Julius, one of the reasons Al Hadji was dropped from the squad was because he often acted undisciplined while strengthening PSMS.

It turned out that this was a problem for Al Hadji, who demanded that PSMS pay his salary until December 2019.

"This player only played for us in the first round of the 2019 League 2. And until that first round, we had paid salaries and compensation," said Julius.

However, Julius emphasized that PSMS still respects the NDRC decision.

The club management has completed its obligations to Al Hadji of Rp.75 million, which was paid after the NDRC decision came out. The rest will be completed in September 2020 at the maximum.

"Between this week and mid-September 2020 we will finish. Everything we give directly to the players. Clean, we pay the taxes," said Julius.

Liga 2 Indonesia 2020 season will be held on 17 October-5 December 2020 with a strict COVID-19 prevention protocol.

A total of 24 participating teams were divided into four groups, each containing six clubs.

PSMS itself occupies Group D with North Sulawesi United FC, Semen Padang, Persekat, Persijap and Sriwijaya FC. All of these group matches will take place in Medan and its surroundings because PSMS was chosen as the host.

Later, the eight best teams from the group stage will enter the quarter-finals. Here, the teams are placed into two groups and the best four have the right to advance to the semifinals.

Then, the top four and final matches are held in a single match. The two teams that enter the final are confirmed to be promoted to League 1 Indonesia 2021.