New Rebels Out to Revive Super League

For Indonesian football, it’s a case of deja vu all over again.

In almost a carbon copy of the conflict that tore the sport asunder a year ago, an unhappy group of clubs wants to leave the officially sanctioned competition and form its own breakaway league.

Former league administrator Liga Indonesia (PTLI), whose authority to run the country’s top football competition was voided by the Indonesian Football Association (PSSI), announced on Thursday that it would revive the Indonesian Super League. The new season is expected to start on Dec. 1 and feature 18 clubs.

Only 13 club representatives attended a so-called shareholders’ meeting on Thursday, with all but Persib Bandung signing an agreement to play in the league. PSSI executive committee members Erwin Dwi Budiawan, Tony Apriliani and Robertho Rouw also attended the meeting.

The PSSI and current league administrator Liga Primer Indonesia Sportindo claimed on Wednesday that six of the clubs — Persipura Jayapura, Persidafon Dafonsoro, Persiwa Wamena, Mitra Kukar, Sriwijaya FC and Persib — had re-registered to play in the officially sanctioned Indonesian Premier League.

All six deny the claim. Sriwijaya technical director Hendri Zainuddin said his club was committed to the ISL.

“It’s not true that we will play in the IPL. It’s just a PSSI and LPIS trick to attract other clubs. Our presence at this meeting shows that we pledge our commitment to the ISL. The PSSI told public lies and we condemn that. It’s not acceptable for an organization like the PSSI,” Hendri said.

Persiwa also dismissed claims it had committed to the IPL.

“It’s a big lie. I was called by the deputy general secretary on Wednesday night, asking for our commitment. I told him that if they want us to join the IPL, we wanted two things: only 18 clubs in the league and clubs holding 99 percent of shares in the league administrator. The PSSI opted to act against it,” Persiwa assistant manager Agus Santoso said.
Several clubs have asked for a 99 percent stake in the league administrator, a Rp 2 billion ($226,000) annual subsidy and 18 teams instead of 24 in the IPL.

Persib representative Muhammad Farhan said his club had not decided which league to join.

“The IPL is the legal competition because it’s sanctioned by the PSSI, but PTLI is more competent than LPIS to run the league. We’ll wait for further developments before deciding,” he said.

PTLI has laid out a preseason timeline, with player registration beginning on Nov. 1 and a managers’ meeting on Nov. 15.

“We’ll be glad if there are 18 clubs playing in the ISL. If we can’t reach that, we’ll give an opportunity to four Premier Division clubs who played in last season’s playoffs — PSMS Medan, Persiram Raja Ampat, Gresik United and PSAP Sigli,” PTLI chief executive Joko Driyono said.

He also said ANTV had signed a six-year deal for ISL commercial and broadcasting rights worth Rp 130 billion per season.

ANTV — controlled by the Bakrie family, which also owns Pelita Jaya — signed a 10-year, Rp 100 billion per season deal with the PSSI in 2006 to show the ISL.

Syahril Thaher, appointed as the new PTLI chairman at the meeting, denied the ISL was a breakaway league.

“The ISL is not a competitor to the IPL because the ISL is legal according to the PSSI statutes and the Bali congress. The conflict happened because the PSSI ignored its own statute and regulations,” the Persiba Balikpapan chairman said, adding that PTLI and the clubs would meet with the PSSI on Monday.

However, LPIS chief executive Widjajanto insisted the IPL would go ahead with 18 clubs.

“No, it’s not true. Mitra Kukar, Persidafon and Persipura are confirmed to play in the IPL. We already made a report to the [PSSI] competition committee for finalization,” Widjajanto told the Jakarta Globe by text message.