Indonesia Soccer Scandalized Again
Its been an ongoing saga in Indonesia’s soccer world: games are often decided due to payoffs. Such behavior has hurt the country’s reputation and banned it from some international competitions. Edy Rahmayadi resigned as chairman of the Indonesian Football Association, or PSSI, over the weekend amid fresh allegations of match-fixing in the national league, which have reignited the sport’s long-running struggle against corruption. The PSSI and police announced a crackdown on match-fixing in December after an executive member of the association was caught on tape trying to bribe a coach with approximately $10,000 to throw a second-division match. Edy, who is the governor of North Sumatra, said his decision to resign as PSSI chairman was made in the nation’s best interest.
“Nothing pressured me to step down. This is the best decision for the nation,” Edy said after his resignation speech during the opening of the PSSI annual congress in Nusa Dua, Bali, on Sunday.