Jail Considered Appropriate Punishment for Match-Fixing Mafia

It is suspected that match-fixing mafias in football are still operating. These individuals allegedly manipulate match scores and influence which teams win and lose.

The General Chairperson of the All-Indonesian Football Association (PSSI), Erick Thohir, has supported the Indonesian National Police Chief's efforts in forming a Special Task Force (Satgas) to combat match-fixing and create a clean football environment.

Erick has also prepared severe punishments for those found guilty of match-fixing.

"The process or punishment within PSSI is different; we have agreed that players, referees, owners, officials, including myself, if there is any 'foul play', are not allowed to be involved in the world of football for life," said Erick during a press conference with the National Police Chief at the National Police Headquarters in Jakarta, as reported by *Republika* on Monday, June 26, 2023.

So, what punishment do the public think match-fixing mafias deserve?

According to a survey by Indikator Politik Indonesia, 37.7% of respondents believe that imprisonment is the most appropriate punishment.

"Imprisonment is considered the most appropriate punishment for those involved in match-fixing," wrote the Indikator Politik Indonesia team in their report titled *National Leadership and Electoral Dynamics Ahead of 2024 in the Eyes of the Young Generation*.

This is followed by a ban from football, chosen by 26.4% of respondents, and fines, chosen by 12.6% of respondents.

This survey involved 1,220 respondents selected using a multistage random sampling method, with 49.5% male respondents and 50.5% female respondents.

Data was collected from June 20-24, 2023, through face-to-face interviews, with a margin of error of approximately 2.9% and a 95% confidence level.

(Read also: Survey: Many People Hope PSSI Achieves World-Class Achievements)