In what looks more like a dark independent comedy rather than a soccer match, two teams in Indonesia’s first division traded a series of clearly intentional own goals in what some are saying is an effort at avoiding a playoff match against a mafia-backed team.
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PSS Sleman and PSIS Semarang have been disqualified from their country’s playoffs after conceding five own goals in the late stages of their match. And by late stages, we mean it was 0-0 heading into the 86th minute and 3-2 by the time it ended.
It’s pretty brutal.
From the BBC:Sleman win the game 3-2, but a committee decided both sides attempted to lose in order to avoid a semi-final match with Borneo FC, a club rumoured to be backed by a local mafia.
The game was scoreless until the 86th minute before Sleman score two own goals in quick succession, Semarang then score three own goals and lose the tie.
Check it out. Non-English language video highlights start at 12-second mark:
Imagine playing for either of these teams, or being their fans. Clearly, you’d know the potential heading into the game but the 86th minute finds a weak own goal for our against your side. Then the rest of them. And how about the one player who briefly wants to celebrate his goal before he realizes everyone else on the field is pretty bummed out?
Bananas.