April 1 – Nurdin Halid (pictured), the under-fire chairman of the Indonesian Football Association (PSSI), appears to have survived the National Football Congress, a conference called by the Government to discuss how to improve the standard of the sport in the country.
The Congress in Malang, which was opened by Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, ended with seven general recommendations aimed at helping the PSSI to develop football in Indonesia but did not call for Halid to resign.
Halid has been accused of overseeing a decline in the performances of Indonesia’s national team and bringing embarrassment upon the country because of the failed bid to host the 2022 World Cup, which was debarred by FIFA after the Government refused to underwrite it financially.
Indonesia’s Minister for Youth and Sports Affairs Andi Mallarangeng promised the Government would assess the recommendations immediately, which included a restructuring of the PSSI, an improvement of infrastructure, improvement of coordination between stakeholders, standardisation of coaching in schools, the setting-up of a identification talent scheme, increased Government funding and new programmes for national teams.
He said: ”We’ll read and study the recommendations as we have the same obligation as our counterparts, KONI [Indonesian National Sports Committee] and PSSI, to implement them.
“Our aim is to listen to and accommodate all opinions and criticism regarding the PSSI and national football from all stakeholders.”
But, because the Congress was initiated by the Government and was not an official PSSI event, the association is under no obligation to implement the recommendations.
Halid, however, said that during his time as chairman, which began in 2003, the PSSI had made improvements similar to those recommended by the congress.
He said: ”Since I was elected as chairman in 2003, I have carried out lots of reforms at PSSI, such as drawing up new statutes complying with those of FIFA.
“We will apply the congress’s recommendations as long as they don’t conflict with PSSI statutes.”
Mallarangeng admitted that if Halid refused to implement the changes then there was nothing that the Government could do.
He said: ”I think it’s KONI’s authority to monitor its members, including PSSI.
“But I urge all national football stakeholders, including KONI and PSSI, to do their homework in order to improve national football.
“If they don’t apply them [the recommendations], then they will upset the public.”
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