Denies There Is An 'Elephant Football' Practice At PON Papua, Menpora: There's Nothing To Be Suspicious

Menpora Zainudin Amali (Photo: Antara)

JAKARTA - Minister of Youth and Sports (Menpora) Zainudin Amali denied the practice of 'elephant football' at the 2021 Papua National Sports Week (PON).

"So, I happened not to be there, I've asked friends who are neutral. They said, we saw nothing to suspect. I also asked several national players, they said there were none. So, just play normally," said the Minister of Youth and Sports in an online discussion about the implementation of the Papua PON in Jakarta, Wednesday, as reported by Antara.

The Minister of Youth and Sports emphasized that this was in response to reports of the practice occurring in the group C match of the Papuan PON soccer sport, which pitted Aceh against East Kalimantan at the Barnabas Youwe Stadium, Sentani, Jayapura, last Monday.

As for the alleged irregularity in the match, East Kalimantan defender M Risky Romadan scored an own goal in the 70th minute. The process of the own goal also raised suspicions of unsportsmanlike action in the match.

The condition of the score which was previously 2-2 was changed to 3-2 for Aceh's advantage. The score lasted until the game was over which made Aceh entitled to advance to the last six after winning goal productivity over North Sulawesi.

Meanwhile, North Sulawesi, which originally had a great chance of qualifying, had to be eliminated because of this result.

According to the Minister of Youth and Sports, it was not as if the goal was specially designed, especially when the goalkeeper's condition was "out of position".

"The goalkeeper is out of position, this is also a lesson that the best is not depending on the fate of other teams because it will be difficult," he said.

The Minister of Youth and Sports reiterated, "But if I see there is no elephant football, it doesn't exist. I have asked a neutral and unrelated one because it will be subjective later," he said.