PSSI Will Announce Investigation Results Of PON Referee Beating Incident

The evacuation of referee Eko Agus Sugiharto in an ambulance after being persecuted in the quarter-finals of the 2024 PON (doc. Antara).

The decision on the results of the investigation of the referee's beating incident in the Aceh versus Central Sulawesi men's soccer match at the 2024 PON will be taken tomorrow, Monday, September 23. This was conveyed by PSSI Secretary General Yunus Nusi, in Jakarta, Saturday, September 21.

"Hopefully Monday night there will be a decision which will later be submitted to the general chairman (PSSI General Chair Erick Thohir-ed)," said Yunus, quoting ANTARA, Sunday, September 22.

The man from Gorontalo said PSSI, including himself, had come to Aceh to investigate the case on Wednesday, September 18.

Yunus said the investigation team was led by the Chairman of the PSSI Appeal Committee Ali Mukartono.

PSSI, he continued, when he had summoned and asked for information from the seven match items on duty in the match, including referee Eko Agus Sugih Harto.

Next, Yunus ensured that PSSI would listen to the point of view of the Central Sulawesi team player who hit referee Eko, Muhammad Rizki Saputra.

"We summoned Rizki's players to attend the hearing on Monday," he said.

Aceh's 2024 PON men's soccer quarter-final match against Central Sulawesi on September 14, 2024 at H Dimurthala Stadium, Banda Aceh, was won by Aceh even though the match was equally strong 1-1 because Central Sulawesi withdrew from the match (walk out).

Central Sulawesi was dissatisfied with the referee's performance in the match. That's the reason that made Muhammad Rizki Saputra beat referee Eko Agus until he fell at the end of the match.

PSSI General Chair Erick Thohir said the incident in the match was embarrassing and promised to impose severe sanctions on all parties found guilty.

"Certainly an in-depth investigation will be carried out. The indications of an unfair match become serious material that is being studied. Even as with the player's reaction, it is certain that it will result in very severe sanctions," said Erick.