TEMPO.CO, Malang - Muhammad Ridwan Hisjam, the deputy chairman of the House of Representatives (DPR) Commission X overseeing sports, viewed that the Youth and Sports Ministry should have been imposed sanctions on PT Liga Indonesia, instead of freezing the Indonesian Football Association (PSSI).

“The decision letter should have been addressed to PT Liga Indonesia, instead of to the PSSI,” Ridwan said in a press conference in Malang on Sunday, April 19, 2015.

Earlier on Friday, April 17, 2015, Youth and Sports Minister Imam Nahrawi signed a decision letter number 01307 of 2015, freezing the PSSI for not responding three warning letters sent by the Ministry on April 8, 15 and 16, 2015. The PSSI and PT Liga Indonesia were considered ignoring the recommendations made by the Indonesian Professional Sports Agency who has excluded Arema Cronus and Persebaya from the Indonesian Super League (LSI) 2015. However, both clubs were still having matches at their home fields.

According to Ridwan, PT Liga Indonesia as the LSI operator should be the one who responded the recommendation made by BOPI. Ridwan dded that the Ministry, through BOPI, should have given Arema and Persebaya the chance to complete their administrative affairs related to reconciliations.

“Arema and Persebaya’s administrations are parts of PT Liga Indonesia’s authority, not PSSI’s,” Ridwan said.

ABDI PURMONO