SOCCER-FIFA/INDONESIA BAN REAX Indonesians soccer fans seek changes after FIFA sanction

Record ID: 149626

  • Title: SOCCER-FIFA/INDONESIA BAN REAX Indonesians soccer fans seek changes after FIFA sanction
  • Date: 31st May 2015
  • Summary: JAKARTA, INDONESIA (MAY 31, 2015) (REUTERS) MAIN STADIUM OF GELORA BUNG KARNO AT JAKARTA JAKARTANS WORKING OUT SURROUND STADIUM PEOPLE RESTING IN FRONT OF INDONESIA FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION (PSSI) A RESIDENT AND SOCCER FAN, AGUS SUDARMA, WARMING UP IN FRONT OF PSSI OFFICE (SOUNDBITE) (Bahasa Indonesia) SOCCER FAN, AGUS SUDARMA SAYING: "With this ban, our celebrated players won
  • Embargoed: 15th June 2015 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Indonesia
  • Country: Indonesia
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVA8MP8UU4AEJBPSAQR04FNRPTZX
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: EDITORS NOTE, EDIT CONTAINS MATERIAL WHICH WAS ORIGINALLY 4:3
    Opinions were mixed in Indonesia on Sunday morning (May 31) after soccer's world governing body FIFA imposed a ban in its national soccer association (PSSI).
    FIFA banned Indonesia on Saturday (May 30) due to the government's "effective takeover" of soccer activities in the country after it suspended the national league following a dispute over which teams are eligible to compete.
    The ban means Indonesia will be ineligible to compete in the next round of qualifiers for the 2018 World Cup and 2019 Asian Cup, starting on June 11, unless they meet FIFA's demands.
    Soccer fan and Jakarta resident, Agus Sudarma, said the sanction would hurt the development of local players.
    "With this ban, our celebrated players won't be able expand their performance in the Indonesia football scene," he said.
    But others thought this would help improve overall quality of the game.
    "I think that is one decision made by FIFA that should be that way, because Indonesian soccer has always been chaotic - PSSI and the government have not been in synch. What may be lacking in PSSI, should be addressed," said another soccer fan Suryono, who goes with one name like many Indonesians.
    PSSI and the Sports and Youth Ministry fought over which teams are eligible to compete in the Indonesian Super League (ISL).
    FIFA takes a dim view of government interference in football affairs and threatened Indonesia with a ban, saying only the PSSI was recognised to make decisions. Indonesia was given until May 29 to resolve the problem but when the deadline passed, FIFA's executive committee invoked the suspension.
    "Why hasn't PSSI been communicating with the current government? In my opinion, I would rather we are banned. The we can expect PSSI to become introspective and also the KEMENPORA (Youth and Sports Ministry) can also be introspective," said soccer coach Herry.
    Ahead of FIFA's sanction, Indonesian President Joko Widodo said if the ban were announced, reforms would be carried out.
    "If a sanction is imposed, we should go through a total rehabilitation and reformation by revamping the management and the system," he told reporters on Saturday (May 30).
    FIFA said it would allow Indonesia to compete in the upcoming Southeast Asian Games in Singapore as the tournament has already started.
    Indonesia was scheduled to play Taiwan on June 11 and Iraq five days later in matches that double as qualifiers for the next World and Asian Cups.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2015. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
Register