By Mark Baber
November 3 – Talks are continuing Tuesday, amidst high hopes, as a joint FIFA and AFC delegation meets with key stakeholders, including the Indonesian president, to find a solution for Indonesian football and to lift the country’s suspension which is causing increasing damage to the football infrastructure of one of SE Asia’s leading footballing powers.
On Monday, the delegation led by Kohzo Tashima (FIFA Executive Committee member) and including HRH Prince Abdullah (FIFA Executive Committee member) and Mariano Araneta (AFC Executive Committee member) met with President Joko Widodo after meeting with the Indonesia Football Federation (PSSI) President and other PSSI officials.
According to a FIFA: “It was apparent that FIFA, AFC, PSSI and the Government are of the common view that Indonesia is a high potential football country and that reforms are needed to maximize their potential. The President of the Republic of Indonesia understood that any reform must occur under the auspices of the FIFA Statutes, but the Government is welcomed as a stakeholder in the reform. The President of the Republic of Indonesia expressed his sincere concern about the affairs of Indonesian football and reiterated his commitment to the development of the game.”
Indonesia were suspended from FIFA after the Indonesian government lost patience with the allegations of corruption and mismanagement in the governing body and tried to take matters into their own hands.
FIFA’s reaction was predictable, but the indications are that all parties are now open to negotiations with Widodo telling the delegation he wants to “get a solution immediately and to form a task force which will communicate continuously with FIFA”, and saying the visiting officials were “happy to see there was no flexing of muscles and that we wanted a solution too.”
Sports Minister Imam Nahrawi also claimed the meeting was “very valuable” and that “constructive” talks were held, using Twitter to announce on Tuesday morning that: “We unanimously agreed to form a small team to finalize our football reform.”
Indonesian football fans will be hoping talks will lead to a recommendation that the current suspension, which has led to their national team being kicked-out of the joint 2018 World Cup and 2019 Asian Cup qualifying campaign, is brought to an end.
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