Football: Indonesia Facing Possible FIFA Suspension

Palangkaraya. Indonesia is facing a possible suspension from world football after two rival associations failed to reunite in time for a Monday deadline set by world governing-body FIFA.

Indonesian Football Association (PSSI) chairman Djohar Arifin Husin said a congress held by his group affirmed that they could not reconcile their differences with the rebel Indonesian Football Rescue Committee (KPSI).

The PSSI decided to annul a Memorandum of Understanding they both signed in June where they agreed to run a single league.

“The MoU did not result in anything meaningful,” Husin told AFP.

“We have opened our doors but KPSI refused to merge with us to run only one league. In fact, they went ahead to form their own football teams. The MoU has failed and so we have decided to annul it,” he said.

“We will report our decision to FIFA and hope it will not pass sanctions against us. The troublemakers are harassing us so, why are we the ones being threatened with punishment?”

The world football body threatened Indonesia with suspension after the split and gave until this Monday to settle damaging infighting which has seen the country’s best teams divided between two rival leagues.

KPSI on Monday held a separate meeting demanding sole control over Indonesian football, its chief La Nyalla Mahmud Mattalitti said, adding that the organisation was “very happy” over the decision to annul the MoU.

“FIFA should ban PSSI. FIFA should know that nobody trusts in Djohar [Arifin Husin] anymore. KPSI should take over the management of Indonesian football,” he said.
However Husin said KPSI’s “decision is irrelevant and invalid as it is illegal.”

Indonesian football has long been mired in controversy and has been threatened with suspension from international competition by FIFA following the launch of the Liga Super by the KPSI.

The PSSI has been in hot water with FIFA and the Asian Football Confederation in recent years over poor management, corruption allegations, leadership tussles and poor security at major matches.

The dual-league rivalry has also hit the national team after the Liga Super told its players not to make themselves available. At Southeast Asia’s ongoing Suzuki Cup, four-time finalists Indonesia bowed out in the group stages.

Agence France-Presse