By David Gold
March 19 – D-day for Indonesia’s embattled Football Association (PSSI) is looming with no sign in sight of a resolution to its conflict with the breakaway domestic league.
FIFA warned the PSSI in January that they would face sanctions if they failed to take control of the game in the country.
Having been given until tomorrow to solve the dispute tearing Indonesian football apart, FIFA’s Associations Committee meets next Monday (March 26) and is set to discuss possible sanctions unless something changes beforehand.
The Jakarta Globe report that the official PSSI congress ended in Palangkaraya yesterday, with no resolution to the dispute with the opposition Indonesian Football Saviour Committee (KPSI), which simultaneously met in Jakarta.
The PSSI refuses to recognise their breakaway Indonesian Super League (ISL), and FIFA has also ordered the national team not to field any players competing in that league.
Last week only Persib Bandung attended a meeting called by the PSSI, who had invited 13 rebel teams to talks.
The PSSI has also been rocked by the Government’s decision to withdraw funding from them due to the ongoing conflict.
However, the Government’s National Sports Committee (KONI) has also threatened to take control of football in the country by assuming the role of the PSSI if they fail to resolve the crisis.
That would only increase the possibility of a serious FIFA sanction and possible international expulsion from the game, as world football’s governing body take a dim view of Government intervention.
Contact the writer of this story at zib.l1734790430labto1734790430ofdlr1734790430owedi1734790430sni@d1734790430log.d1734790430ivad1734790430
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