Indonesia accepts FIFA ban on national coach
Indonesia
coach Aji Santoso has been banned for four games and fined by FIFA for accusing
match officials of taking bribes during a 10-0 loss to Bahrain in World Cup
qualifying. The Indonesian
Football Association and Santoso said on Wednesday they accepted the
punishments but didn't rule out an appeal. Santoso, now coaching the national
under-23 side, was fined $6,530. Santoso was red-carded by Lebanese
referee Andre Al Haddad in the 75th minute of February's match in Manama
following allegations he accused Al Haddad of being bribed . FIFA said Santoso told the
officials “(there is) money involved (here).” In the second minute, Al Haddad sent off Indonesia's goalkeeper and awarded
four penalties to Bahrain, which needed to make up a nine-goal deficit on Qatar
to have a chance of advancing to the next round. However, Qatar drew 2-2 with Iran, and
those two advanced. FIFA called the outcome "unusual" and launched an investigation.
Indonesia was warned by FIFA before
the match to send its strongest team, but an inexperienced team was selected
after Indonesia suspended players from clubs in the breakaway Indonesian Super
League. Edi Ellison, the spokesman for the Indonesian association, said they will
wait to decide on an appeal after the result of FIFA's probe.
Because of the loss to Bahrain and the
breakaway league, the government was planning to cut funding to the
association.
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