You Have To See These Indonesian Soccer Dudes Throw This Match

Words like "unbelievable" are thrown around too often in sports, but the highlight video above and especially the extended clips below of two Indonesian soccer teams throwing a match is exactly what the word unbelievable was meant to express. But then you realize that they're doing so to maybe save their lives, and it makes more sense.

Here's the setting, from Yahoo: PSS Sleman and PSIS Semarang faced off in the Indonesian Premier League's playoffs. The lucky winner would advance to the semifinals. Only neither team wanted any part of the team they were scheduled to play next:

The teams were both trying to avoid playing against Pusamania Borneo FC in the semi-finals of the Premier Division's final rounds as the team is believed to be backed by gangsters, local media reported.

The Jakarta Globe newspaper said that Pusamania fans recently attacked the coach of a visiting team, Persis, who promptly abandoned the planned game and took the first flight home.

Hence the blatant, shameless goalkeeping you see above. Semarang started well, conceding two own goals early on. But Sleman came roaring back by scoring three own goals of their own in the match's final few minutes. The additional footage from the match is mind-blowing. The teams are forced to defend the other team's goal so to prevent them from scoring an own goal!

In the end, neither team had to worry about going up against Pusamania, since officials disqualified both clubs from the tournament. The league is also considering fines.

The end of Yahoo's article doesn't give much hope for the game's future in Indonesia:

The match was just the latest controversy to hit the chaotic world of Indonesian football, which has been beset by numerous problems in recent years, from leadership tussles to foreign players dying after complaining of going unpaid.

Yikes. Stay safe out there, you guys.

[ Yahoo]