Football Breaks My Heart Once Again

Can't it be the last?

Forget the Confederation Cup. Enough. I’m still disappointed. US could have won it and shown the American public that Yankees can play some football, the world’s game, the beautiful game. The final’s first half was just exactly what I wanted with The Sam’s Army playing one of their finest game and leading by 2 goals to nil. But the Brazilians made a strong comeback in the second half to outplay Bob Bradley’s side and show the world why the have that 5 titles. For an upset lover like me, it was a bad day. Yet, it was a good game, one of the best in the tournament. I still have reason to be a bit entertained. I can cheer a little. For you, Clint, I can understand the tears man! But life goes on, show us what Soccer USA can do next year in the World Cup.

Hours earlier, in a country across the Indian Ocean, thousands of miles away, another big game took place. It was the final of the Indonesian Cup (similar like those cup competition in Europe which for sponsorship reason is called Copa Dji Sam Soe) between the host and defending champion, Sriwijaya against the current league winner Persipura. The first half was a formality with both teams creating some few chances but never managed to put the ball inside the net. 0-0.

In the second half, things got better with the home team enjoying more possession of the ball. In the 51th minute Nasuha’s cross was capitalized by Obiora to give Sriwijaya the lead. 1-0. So far so good. Looked like we were going to have a good game. Trailing by one goal behind, Persipura decided to increased the tempo of the game. In the 59th minute through a well-organized break Persipura managed to create a real chance. Jeremiah was on one on one position with Rotinsulu, Sriwijaya’s goalkeeper. There, where it all started. Instead of clearing the ball, Rotinsulu’s dove too deep into Jeremiah’s feet. The Nigerian fell, lost the possession of the ball, and so did a chance to equalize the score.

Penalty! Shouted all Persipura players.

They though it was a clear foul on Jeremiah. The referee, one of the nation’s best, Purwanto though otherwise, shook his head. No foul. Play on. The rebound fell on Boaz’s feet where he soon stroke to the goal post but was blocked by Sriwijaya’s defensive player using….his hand!

Penalty! Penalty! Persipura players cried for another penalty.

Purwanto said no. He didn’t see anything wrong. Penalty wasn’t given. The rest of the story is clearly predictable. A typical scene we have seen thousands of times in Indonesian football. Persipura players protested referee’s decision claiming that they had two clear chances of getting a penalty. They surrounded Purwanto, pushed him, cursed him with words you usually hear in the street. Another Persipura player, Beto even did something more ridiculous, holding a bundle of money and waving it high, so everybody in the stadium could see. We know what he meant. If that’s not enough, Persipura decided to quit the match. Leaving the pitch before finally entering the locker room. And that was it. Childish. Mindless. Call it whatever you want. After a hour long of negotiation with Persipura which involved our beloved Nurdin Halid with his PSSI scums, the sponsor, TV One as the broadcaster, Persipura made their official decision. This one was final. They wouldn’t continue.

I was clueless. Looking at my TV without being able to say a word. It couldn’t happen again. Another heartbreaking moment for a national football fan.

I try to make up my mind. I know BLI has responsibility for yesterday’s chaos. I still don’t get the idea of holding the tournament’s final in Palembang. Yes, in the other part of the world, it’s normal to select a particular city to host the final, just like the UEFA Champions League or UEFA Cup. But which city to host is decided a year before the match takes place. Even earlier. But that’s not the case with this season’s Copa Dji Sam Soe final. The decision was made during the competition quarterfinal with Sriwijaya still in competition having a good chance to advance to the next round. If BLI really wanted to hold a single-game final, considering the cost and also the proximity of the game to the presidential election, why not opting to play the game in Kalimantan? East Kalimantan has some of the finest stadiums in the nation and doesn’t have any football-related restriction. Ultimately, it would be fair to play the match there, because it’s a neutral zone. It’s located in the central of the nation, it’d be more convenient for fans of both teams to travel there. And speaking of neutrality, why not playing in Si Jalak Harupat in Bandung without spectators just like last year league final? I know it’s bad for the sponsor, but at least neutrality is guaranteed.

I also know clearly that Purwanto made mistake. Those were definitely poor decisions. We can argue about Rotinsulu’s foul, but the handball was inexcusable. Yet, that’s football. It’s not tennis or the NFL when decision can be reviewed using instant replay technology. Purwanto is just a human being, just like you and me, not a Superman. And people make mistake. We know what the rules say, referee’s decision has to be obeyed. No matter what. No matter how painful. So I have no objection on his decision to red-card Jeremiah for his improper conduct. Still, Purwanto’s flaw in playing his part in the match has some significance in creating the mess.

How many times have you seen scene like this?

But to me, the biggest sinners of what happened yesterday is Persipura, both the players and the team’s official. Especially the officials who kept refusing to continue playing. We have had stuffs like this thousands of times. Like it or not, controversial referee’s decisions are part of the game, it’s just as old as the game itself. I believe that referees try their best to lead the game as fairly as they can because they have incentive to do so. They’re paid, they’re professionals. Performing poorly will increase their likelihood to be delegated to lower division games, which means less pay. Yet, again to err is human. In a game everything can happen just so fast, that a referee might miss an action or two. Persipura players and officials could learn from what happened to Chelsea in the Champions League semis last season. They should have got two penalties when Malouda was pushed inside the box and Pique was caught handball. Protest they did. But they continued playing before eventually being eliminated from the tournament by Iniesta’s late strike. Some Chelsea players were angry and outraged by the Norwegian referee’s decision, but at least they didn’t quit the match, and launched another protest when the game was over. I know about the idea of football as a competition, a medium of deciding who’s the best. But being the best doesn’t only mean scoring more goals and winning more cups, it’s also about respecting the sportmanship and rules of the game. Respect, that’s one thing Persipura players and officials lack. They think that they’re simply the best by winning the league title. They can’t believe that there is a team which can outperform them. So when things didn’t go their way, they’d think some people must be cheating on them, trying every means possible to beat them.

30 minutes is a long time for football. Long enough to create some few chances. Everything still can happen, especially for a team as gifted as Persipura. Last nigh Brazil scored their last two goals in the last 15 minutes before bringing home the title. As for now the game is officially over, the trophy has been given, and I will say loudly that this is a well-deserved victory for Sriwijaya. They won by showing hardwork, commitment, and spirit to win by following the rules.

As for Persipura, you guys are pathetic! An embarrassment for the country’s football. A real champion wouldn’t do that. Grow up guys! You’ll represent us in the Asian Champions League next season. I don’t want to hear stuff like this at the international level. Enough is enough. It has to be the last.