By Andrew Warshaw
December 6 – FIFA has given rival Indonesian football factions until Monday (December 10) to end their in-fighting or face suspension from the world game, according to local reports.
The country has been plagued by a battle for control over the national game with the Football Association of Indonesian (PSSI) on one side and the breakaway Indonesian Soccer Rescue Committee (KPSI) on the other.
The two groups have their own leagues but signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in June where they agreed to hold a congress on December 10.
FIFA secretary general Jérôme Valcke is reported to have written to the country’s Sports Minister Andi Mallarangeng, saying Indonesia faced indefinite sanctions “which could go as far as an indefinite suspension” if the rows were not resolved at the forthcoming meeting.
“With the deadline approaching and in the current situation, we deem it important that the Indonesian authorities be made aware of the likely sanctions to be imposed on Indonesia,” said Valcke.
“We are fully aware that Indonesia is passionate about soccer and that sanctions will have a major impact.
“We have tried tirelessly to solve the problems, but we are afraid that there will be no choice unless the objectives of FIFA and the AFC are met or that significant progress has been made.”
Any suspension would jeopardise Indonesia’s participation in the qualifying tournament for the 2015 Asian Cup, which begins in February.
Earlier this year, the national team suffered a humiliating record 10-0 by Bahrain in a World Cup qualifier after many of their established internationals were blocked from playing because they had contracts with “rebel” KPSI Indonesian clubs.
PSSI chairman Djohar Arifin Husin (pictured above) said he was astonished that FIFA would even consider imposing sanctions on his federation.
“The PSSI is an official member of FIFA and we’ve been disturbed by another party outside the PSSI,” he said.
“I hope FIFA can see reality in Indonesia.
“PSSI didn’t violate a single article in FIFA’s statute, we also gave our full support to the reconciliation process.”
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