4 PSSI Hopefuls Booted By FIFA

The race for the Indonesian Football Association’s top job is wide open after the sport’s world governing body, FIFA, ruled that the initial four nominees were ineligible to run.

In a statement on its Web site on Thursday, FIFA confirmed that current association chairman Nurdin Halid, deputy chairman Nirwan Dermawan Bakrie, Arifin Panigoro, initiator of the rebel Indonesian Premier League, and Army Chief of Staff Gen. George Toisutta would not be permitted to run for the chairmanship of the association, known as the PSSI.

FIFA had previously said that four candidates were ineligible but had not named the quartet.

FIFA officials, who met with the chairman of the PSSI normalization committee, Agum Gumelar, in Zurich on Tuesday, also reiterated that the committee had the function of an electoral committee.

This means FIFA does not recognize the electoral committee chosen on April 14 by a group inside the PSSI, which claims to have a reform agenda for improving the association. However, FIFA decided to recognize the appeals committee, which consists of PSSI members Ahmad Riyadh, Rio Denamore and Umuh Muhtar.

Sports Minister Andi Mallarangeng on Friday urged all PSSI members to honor FIFA’s decision and act accordingly.

“I’ve heard about FIFA rulings from Agum and I urge all football stakeholders to abide by the rules and let the normalization committee do its job with help from the appeals committee,” Andi said.

The minister’s comment came after the so-called pro-reform group showed little interest in playing by FIFA’s rules.

The group, which comprises 78 PSSI members, said it would continue to back Toisutta and Arifin to lead the PSSI, and even threatened to hold its own election if FIFA did not allow them to run for the chairmanship.

In its statement, FIFA clearly warned that failure to abide by its decision could result in PSSI incurring severe sanctions, including a suspension.

Andi urged the group not to take matters into its own hands. “The Sports Ministry won’t be backing a breakaway congress,” he said. “Again, we demand that all PSSI members abide by the rules so that the May 20 elections run smoothly and PSSI will have better and credible leaders.

“Personally, I regret FIFA’s decision to ban Toisutta and Arifin from running, but we have to follow the rules.”

Agum told the PSSI that he would personally explain FIFA’s decision to Toisutta and Arifin.

“I was the one who personally asked Toisutta to run for the PSSI chairmanship, so I myself must explain FIFA’s decision to him,” he said.

Arifin, Nirwan and Toisutta are still listed as candidates on the PSSI Web site. Also listed are a number of familiar names, such as PSSI’s East Jakarta branch chairman, Gatot Haryo Sutejo, young entrepreneur Erwin Aksa and Persikota Tangerang chairman Wahidin Halim.

Former Jakarta Governor Sutiyoso was last to go on the list when Persija Jakarta nominated him on Friday. Also listed are the names of seven deputy chairman candidates and 11 nominees for the executive committee. Diza Rasyid Ali of South Sulawesi is still the only female candidate.

news by : http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/sports/4-pssi-hopefuls-booted-by-fifa/436870