Indonesia grateful for FIFA support
Reuters - Tuesday 05 April 2011, 07:37
JAKARTA - FIFA's decision to remove power
from the chaotic Indonesian Football Association (PSSI) has been
warmly received by the southeast Asian country's government.
Football's world governing body said on Monday they would
appoint a normalisation committee to run the PSSI and organise
presidential elections by May 21.
"The government warmly welcomes FIFA's decision because it
means the government and FIFA are in agreement," Sports Minister
Andi Mallarangeng (pictured) told local media on Tuesday.
"As soon as the committee is formed, the government will
facilitate it so it can work immediately and start preparing for
the PSSI congress."
FIFA's move came after weeks of protests against
controversial PSSI head Nurdin Halid and his organisation's
failure to stop the popular breakaway Indonesian Premier League
(LPI) which was started in January by local oil tycoon Arifin
Panigoro.
FIFA said the PSSI had lost all credibility in Indonesia and
were not in a position to control the current crisis.
The news of FIFA's intervention was also welcomed by the
LPI, who have received government support from the outset and
have been working with the Indonesian Professional Sports Body
instead of the PSSI.
"Right now, we will keep running with the Indonesian
Professional Sports State Body (BOPI) but we are sure that the
new officers of the PSSI will accept LPI," league official Abi
Hasantoso told Reuters.
"The LPI is based on FIFA's direction 'For the Good of the
Game' and the AFC's (Asian Football Confederation) Pro-League
Committee."
Halid and Panigoro, along with Nirwan D. Bakrie and Army
Chief of Staff Gen. George Toisutta, are believed to be the four
PSSI presidential candidates FIFA rejected on Monday.