By David Gold
January 2 – The troubled Indonesian Football Association (PSSI) could face sanctions from FIFA if they fail to retake control of the game in the country, after a group called the Indonesian Football Saviour Committee (KPSI) claimed to have taken over their duties.
PSSI are also battling against a breakaway league formed by eight clubs – Mitra Kukar, Persisam Samarinda, Persib Bandung, Persela Lamongan, Persiba Balikpapan, PSPS Pekanbaru, Deltras Sidoarjo and Pelita Jaya Karawang – who have all been fined as a result.
The current situation means that PSSI is in violation of FIFA’s statutes, primarily article 18 which states that “leagues or any other groups affiliated to a member of FIFA shall be subordinate to and recognised by that member.”
Earlier this year FIFA threatened to suspend Indonesia from international football after being forced to set up a Normalisation Committee to run the country’s affairs after one of their members was prevented from attending this year’s leadership election.
The outcome was the ousting of previous head Nurdin Halid from his post, but despite his departure the organisation’s problems remain.
When asked by insideworldfootball if the country could once more be threatened with suspension over the current crisis, FIFA did not rule it out, saying that “should the situation not be resolved by 20 March 2012, FIFA will have to report the case of the PSSI to the FIFA Associations Committee for review and possible sanction.”
Suspension is just one option available should the PSSI not fall into line with FIFA’s statutes, but the situation does not look like ending anytime soon as the political dispute escalates.
KPSI chairman Tony Apriliani (pictured) said: “We sent our demands to the PSSI on December 23, but they haven’t responded yet.
“We decided to set up the meeting ourselves since we are the majority of PSSI members.”
Among their demands is new leadership at the PSSI, and they have demanded an election for March 6, as well as announcing that they would take on the role of the country’s governing body.
PSSI chairman Djohar Arifin Husin has said that they will continue as usual, saying that “everyone has to think about the greater good”.
He added: “This organisation has rules and we have to abide by those rules.
“FIFA and [the Asian Football Confederation] have told us to draw those who are now outside the PSSI back into the organisation.
“The process is ongoing.”
The start of the current season was delayed in October when the breakaway league was originally initially threatened, which led to the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) warning the country that its teams could face suspension from continental competitions.
The renegade clubs have been given until next week to decide whether to rejoin the country’s Premier League or face sanctions by the PSSI.
FIFA also told insideworldfootball that “the clubs playing in the ISL, by their action, are jeopardising the capacity of PSSI to comply with the FIFA statutes.”
FIFA urged the PSSI to take decisive action to get the situation under control, and pointed out that no officials, particularly referees, should have anything to do with the breakaway league.
However, the KPSI has been formed by 452 of the 580 PSSI members, with former PSSI Disciplinary Committee chief Hinca Pandjaitan at its head, meaning that this may be unlikely to avoid.
Players in the breakaway league also cannot be transferred abroad or play for the national team.
This poses a further headache for the country as a number of the players who played in their World Cup qualifier with Iran recently are competing in the breakaway league.
Contact the writer of this story at zib.l1734846079labto1734846079ofdlr1734846079owedi1734846079sni@d1734846079log.d1734846079ivad1734846079
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