PSSI Denies Cross-Ownership Breach by Gede Widiade
Jakarta. The national football governing body has denied a breach of cross-ownership rules with Gede Widiade serving as a top executive at both Persija Jakarta and police-affiliated Bhayangkara.
The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) prohibits cross-ownership, as it could result in match fixing.
Gede is currently president director of Persija, while he is also chief operating officer of Bekasi, West Java-based Bhayangkara. Both clubs play in Indonesia's top-tier Liga 1.
The Indonesian Football Association (PSSI), which has rebranded itself as a professional and dignified organization after Lt. Gen. Edy Rahmayadi was elected chairman last year, claims that Gede is hired by both clubs as a professional employee and that he only has a stake in one of the clubs.
"Gede does not have any stake in Persija, while he only has a minor share in Bhayangkara. So in this case, he does not breach the cross-ownership rules," PSSI deputy chairman Joko Driyono said on Wednesday (12/04), as quoted by Goal.com.
The AFC, of which the PSSI is a member, does not allow clubs participating in the same competition to have such strong affiliation. The rule, which is intended to ensure integrity, is part of the AFC statutes and club licensing regulations.
"No natural or legal person involved in the management, administration and/or sporting performance of the club, either directly or indirectly, may hold or deal in the securities or shares that allow such person to exercise a decisive influence in the activities of any other club participating in the same competition," the rule states.
Gede's position at both clubs has raised the ire of football watchdog Save Our Soccer (SOS), which declared that the PSSI's reforms have failed.
"Indonesia's football reform has been unsuccessful," SOS coordinator Akmal Marhali said in a statement on Friday.
SOS said the PSSI failed to implement transparency, claiming that it has also not disclosed the amount it received for the Liga 1 broadcasting rights.
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