Allegations Of Bribery And Counterfeiting In The Decree On The Termination Of Liga 2

Persipura Jayapura manager Yan Mandenas (sporter mic). (Photo: Cosmas Kopong Beda/VOI)

JAKARTA - There were allegations of bribery in the decision to terminate Liga 2 2022/2023 which became a recent polemic. In addition, there are also allegations of manipulation or falsification of the signature of representatives of Liga 2 clubs.

The polemic began with the circulation of a letter entitled "Joint Statement Letter for Liga 2 Club 2022/2023" containing the agreement of League 2 teams to stop the 2022-2023 season competition, form a new operator for League 2 and give confidence to Mochamad Iriawan as PSSI General Chair.

The document dated December 14, 2022, which is the day of the meeting of the owners of Liga 2 clubs with PSSI and LIB, was signed by representatives of 20 League 2 clubs.

The letter was also said to be one of the basis for PSSI to stop the 2022-2023 Liga 2 at the Executive Committee (Exco) meeting on January 12, 2023.

However, some clubs did not feel that they had signed the letter and accused there was forgery there, as reported by Antara, Wednesday, January 25.

One of them is Persipura Jayapura. Persipura's manager, Yan Mandenas, claims that each signature is worth IDR 15 million.

"Some of the signatures were faked. Many clubs have complained because each signature was given transportation money of Rp. 15 million per club," Yan said as quoted by Antara.

"However, they didn't know it was to stop the league. All we know is that the signature was made as a sign of presence at the'manager meeting'," he continued.

The alleged fake signatures and bribes were also acknowledged by Karo United CEO Effendy Syahputra. He also hopes that this case will be investigated so that the problem becomes clear.

Meanwhile, PSSI Secretary General Yunus Nusi said the issue of bribery worth Rp. 15 million which was said to have been given to every Liga 2 club that signed an agreement to stop the 2022/2023 season was unreasonable.

"When the League 2 club wants to be bribed Rp. 15 million. There are all rich people. It doesn't make sense either," said Yunus after attending the meeting of the owners of the 2022-2023 League clubs with PSSI and LIB in Jakarta, Tuesday, January 24 evening.