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We Were Behind Persipura’s ACL Exclusion, PSSI Says
Wimbo Satwiko | December 09, 2011

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The Indonesian Football Association finally revealed on Friday that they recommended reigning champion Persipura Jayapura be excluded from the 2012 Asian Champions League.

Persipura, last season’s Indonesian Super League champion, was due to represent the country in the ACL playoffs next season, but the Asian Football Confederation omitted the Black Pearls from the list last week.

The decision caused controversy as Persipura and its fans blamed the association, known as PSSI, which in turn had said the decision was the AFC’s to make.

But the PSSI’s chairman Djohar Arifin Husin said on Friday that the AFC made the decision based on its recommendation.

“Yes, we gave recommendation to the AFC to omit Persipura from the Champions League playoffs,” Djohar said.

He told reporters that the decision was taken after a lengthy debate and thorough discussion.

“Actually we had registered Persipura to play in the Champions League. But we changed our minds after they refused to play the Indonesian Premier League opener [against Arema Indonesia on Nov. 26],” he said. “AFC rules say that only clubs that play in a national association’s official competition can play in the continental competition.”

The 2012 AFC Champions League regulations state that “clubs must exist within the geographical territory of a national association, and shall be under the control and jurisdiction of a national association whilst participating in the Competition.”

Persipura decided to keep playing in the now breakaway ISL, even though the PSSI had introduced the IPL as the new top-flight competition in the country.

The AFC has told the PSSI to make a formal report of the rebel ISL, which could bring further action from the regional body as well as FIFA.

Djohar said the PSSI had yet to officially report the breakaway league because they’re still trying to persuade all the teams to join the IPL.

“We hope they will be back to the right track. We don’t want those clubs to be sanctioned by the AFC if we report them because lots of people will be affected, especially players. Lots of national team players are in the ISL clubs,” Djohar said.