3 League 1 Clubs Reported To The Police Criminal Investigation Unit Regarding Gambling Practices In Football, This Is PSSI Recommendation

Secretary General of PSSI, Yunus Nusi. (Photo: Doc. PSSI)

JAKARTA - PSSI immediately reacted after three Liga 1 clubs were reported to the Criminal Investigation Unit of the Police regarding the alleged practice of gambling in football. The three clubs were Persikabo 1973, Arema FC and PSIS Semarang.

On the emergence of this case, PSSI asked the clubs participating in the Indonesian professional football league to stop collaborating with parties suspected of being related to gambling. This was conveyed by PSSI Secretary General Yunus Nusi.

"In football there should not be anything troubling. So we ask our members to take the best steps," Yunus Nusi said on the PSSI official website, as reported by Antara, Tuesday, August 23.

"Before there are disturbing things, we suggest that the cooperation be stopped first," he continued.

Yunus Nusi confirmed that he would summon the three clubs that were reported to the Criminal Investigation Unit of the National Police for clarification. It will be studied later whether there is a violation of the law regarding the policies of these clubs.

This recommendation from PSSI itself has been carried out by Arema FC. They terminated the cooperation contract with one of their sponsors. This is stated on their official website.

As previously reported, the three Liga 1 clubs were not the only parties to be reported. PSSI and PT Liga Indonesia Baru were also reported.

According to Indonesia Police Watch (IPW), the report was submitted by an academic and football lover, Rio Johan Putra. The alleged crime by the reported parties is distributing and/or transmitting and/or making accessible electronic information that has a gambling content in conjunction with gambling or providing gambling opportunities.

This is as referred to in Article 45 paragraph 2 of Law Number 19 of 2016 concerning Amendments to Law Number 11 of 2008 concerning Information and Electronic Transactions in conjunction with Article 303 of the Criminal Code.

IPW assessed that Persikabo 1973 promoted gambling sites because they were sponsored by SBOTOP. Then PSIS is the same because it is supported by Skore88.news which they believe is the Skore88 gambling site.

Then Arema FC took a similar action because it collaborated with Bola88.fun which was said to be connected to the Bola88 gambling house.

LIB and PSSI themselves have confirmed that they have never partnered or participated in club collaboration with the alleged gambling house.