JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) The head of the Indonesian Football Association's disciplinary committee has publicly apologized for an own goal fiasco in a playoff match involving PSS Sleman and PSIS Semarang, saying both clubs faced relegation and the players faced life bans.
Sleman won 3-2, conceding two own goals in the last 10 minutes - only for Semarang to concede three - but a disciplinary committee decided both teams attempted to lose in order to avoid a semifinal against Borneo.
IFA disciplinary official Hinca Panjaitan told local media he'd asked the referees' association to suspend the match official amid an investigation. Both teams were barred from the playoffs.
Hinca says ''We would like to apologize to the Indonesian people... This clearly violated the principles of fair play, where teams should play to win, not to lose.''
