Indonesia's 'rebel' referees shown red cards
Reuters - Friday 18 February 2011, 09:17
JAKARTA, Feb 18 (Reuters) - 'Rebel' Indonesia referees who
have officiated games in the a breakaway local league have had
their international licenses stripped by the Football
Association of Indonesia (PSSI).
In the latest fallout from last month's launching of the
Indonesia Premier League (LPI), the referees were also booted
out of the PSSI, the Jakarta Post reported.
The PSSI's director of referees Bambang Irianto said
revoking the international licenses of the match officials would
leave the LPI struggling for credibility.
"How can they claim that their matches are professional when
the (referees) presiding over the matches are referees whose
licenses were revoked," he said.
The LPI is an independent professional league launched
without recognition from football's governing body FIFA or the
PSSI.
The PSSI, which has banned LPI players from playing for
Indonesia's national side, has said it had received permission
from FIFA to sanction the referees.
Two Singaporean players planning to join LPI side Medan
Chiefs have also put their international careers at risk as the
Singapore Football Association also refuses to recognise the
breakaway league.