By David Gold
May 12 – The Indonesian FA (PSSI) has been forced to bow to pressure from FIFA as the Normalisation Committee set up to run the country’s football affairs confirmed the final list of candidates eligible to run in their elections next week, with controversial candidates George Toisutta and Arifin Panigoro absent
The move is in line with previous FIFA rulings that the pair were ineligible to stand.
Earlier in the week the PSSI’s Appeals Committee had ruled that the pair could run for the election against FIFA warnings, which risked seeing the country suspended from international football.
“We accepted the appeal from all Executive Committee members,” Appeal committee chairman Achmad Riyadh had said.
“They can run for PSSI chairman.”
Toisutta and Panigoro’s spokesman, Halim Mahfudz, had also declared that the pair will be willing to take the case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) if FIFA prevent them from running in the election.
FIFA had last week told the PSSI that they could not process the appeals because the case had already been heard and decided.
With the appeals committee determined to allow the controversial candidates to stand, Indonesia’s ability to participate in the World Cup 2014 qualifying process had been placed in doubt, with the team set to face Turkmenistan on July 23.
But the Indonesian Normalisation Committee set up by FIFA to control the country’s football affairs whilst the elections take place, decided to overrule the Appeals Committee and fall in line with the world governing body, saving the country from further potential censure.
Contact the writer of this story at zib.l1734804521labto1734804521ofdlr1734804521owedi1734804521sni@d1734804521log.d1734804521ivad1734804521
Related stories
May 2011: FIFA warn Indonesian FA over election
April 2011: Halid banned from Indonesian Football Association elections
March 2011: Government cuts off funding to Indonesian Football Association amid election row
March 2011: Indonesian football left in limbo after Congress cancelled
April 2010: Indonesian conference stops short of calling for Halid to resign
