Indonesian FA Urges Clubs to End Sponsorships with Gambling Firms

TheIndonesia.id - The Indonesian Football Association (PSSI) is urging football clubs to end sponsorship deals with gambling companies after the association and three clubs were reported to the police for promoting gambling.

Secretary general of PSSI Yunus Nusi said PSSI is calling for clubs who are participating in Liga 1 to cut ties with betting companies following police report on alleged association between Indonesian top football clubs and gambling firms.

“There should not be [anything] illegal in football, so we are asking our members to take the right step. Before something bad happens, we suggest for such cooperation to be ended,” Nusi said in a statement on Tuesday, August 23, as reported by Antara.

He also revealed that PSSI will summon representatives of Persikabo 1973, PSIS Semarang, and Arema FC to ask for clarification and see whether any violation was committed.

Previously, academic and football fan Rio Johan Putra reported PSSI, league operator PT Liga Indonesia Baru (LIB), and the three Liga 1 clubs to the police on suspicion of gambling in football.

According to the Indonesian Police Watch (IPW), the report was received by the National Police Criminal Investigation Agency (Bareskrim).

LIB and PSSI have claimed they never partnered with and was never included in clubs’ deals with alleged gambling companies.

IPW considered Persikabo 1973 to promote online gambling because the club is sponsored by SBOTOP while PSIS Semarang has sponsorship deals with Skore88.news which is believed to be online gambling site Skore88.

Meanwhile, Arema FC is sponsored by Bola88.fun which reportedly has affiliation with gambling company Bola88.