Arema's Noh Alam Shah was sent off for a boot in the face of Sriwijaya's Precious Emuejeraye.
Solo, Central Java. On a night that belonged to Sriwijaya FC, the police nearly upstaged the coronation of Indonesian football’s newest dynasty.
The South Sumatra club edged 10-man Arema Malang 2-1 in the Indonesian Cup final in Solo to claim the title for a third straight season.
But in a year that saw a number of matches rescheduled or relocated because of police permit issues, authorities were right in the middle of the action again in Sunday’s final.
The game was halted for more than an hour after Central Java Police Chief Insp. Gen. Alex Bambang Riatmodjo ordered match officials to replace referee Jimmy Napitpulu.
Jimmy had red-carded Arema captain Noh Alam Shah in the 20th minute after he appeared to have kicked Sriwijaya defender Precious Emuerejaye in the face.
During halftime, Alex approached the match commissioner and told him to replace Jimmy over the referee’s decision to send off Alam Shah.
PT Liga Indonesia refused to comply and the halftime break was extended to 75 minutes, leaving the fate of the match in doubt. Alex, however, eventually relented and allowed the final to continue after he was promised the “referee would make fair decisions.”
“I was not interfering with the match,” a visibly upset Alex told reporters. “I was just asking the referee to do his job. Because if he doesn’t, then the supporters will get angry and none of us want that to happen.
“This is not interference, this is just a precaution, and the police have the right to do whatever is necessary to prevent chaos.
“Those referees, PSSI officials can all go home, go to Jakarta after the match ends because they do not live in Central Java. It’s us, the Central Java Police, who will be busy if the fans run amok through the city.”
It wasn’t the first time Alex attempted to stop a match. He also got in the way of a game between Persis Solo and Gresik United when two players fought.
The coaches of both Arema and Sriwijaya said police involvement during such incidents was uncalled for.
“It’s not normal in any football country. In my view, it shouldn’t happen. It’s an example of why Indonesia has yet to meet FIFA standards,” Arema coach Robert Alberts said.
Sriwijaya coach Rahmad Darmawan said, “It will have a bad impact on national football.
“It breaches FIFA regulations, but I don’t want to give any further comment on the issue.”
After a scoreless first half, Keith Kayamba Gumbs put Sriwijaya in the lead with a goal in the 48th minute. Arema equalized in the 72nd through Muhamad Ridhuan, before Pavel Solomin scored the winner seven minutes later.
On Saturday, Persik Kediri edged Persipura Jayapura 1-0 to take third place.
Solo, Central Java. On a night that belonged to Sriwijaya FC, the police nearly upstaged the coronation of Indonesian football’s newest dynasty.
The South Sumatra club edged 10-man Arema Malang 2-1 in the Indonesian Cup final in Solo to claim the title for a third straight season.
But in a year that saw a number of matches rescheduled or relocated because of police permit issues, authorities were right in the middle of the action again in Sunday’s final.
The game was halted for more than an hour after Central Java Police Chief Insp. Gen. Alex Bambang Riatmodjo ordered match officials to replace referee Jimmy Napitpulu.
Jimmy had red-carded Arema captain Noh Alam Shah in the 20th minute after he appeared to have kicked Sriwijaya defender Precious Emuerejaye in the face.
During halftime, Alex approached the match commissioner and told him to replace Jimmy over the referee’s decision to send off Alam Shah.
PT Liga Indonesia refused to comply and the halftime break was extended to 75 minutes, leaving the fate of the match in doubt. Alex, however, eventually relented and allowed the final to continue after he was promised the “referee would make fair decisions.”
“I was not interfering with the match,” a visibly upset Alex told reporters. “I was just asking the referee to do his job. Because if he doesn’t, then the supporters will get angry and none of us want that to happen.
“This is not interference, this is just a precaution, and the police have the right to do whatever is necessary to prevent chaos.
“Those referees, PSSI officials can all go home, go to Jakarta after the match ends because they do not live in Central Java. It’s us, the Central Java Police, who will be busy if the fans run amok through the city.”
It wasn’t the first time Alex attempted to stop a match. He also got in the way of a game between Persis Solo and Gresik United when two players fought.
The coaches of both Arema and Sriwijaya said police involvement during such incidents was uncalled for.
“It’s not normal in any football country. In my view, it shouldn’t happen. It’s an example of why Indonesia has yet to meet FIFA standards,” Arema coach Robert Alberts said.
Sriwijaya coach Rahmad Darmawan said, “It will have a bad impact on national football.
“It breaches FIFA regulations, but I don’t want to give any further comment on the issue.”
After a scoreless first half, Keith Kayamba Gumbs put Sriwijaya in the lead with a goal in the 48th minute. Arema equalized in the 72nd through Muhamad Ridhuan, before Pavel Solomin scored the winner seven minutes later.
On Saturday, Persik Kediri edged Persipura Jayapura 1-0 to take third place.
