Indonesian Government Sets Up Taskforce to Avoid FIFA Sanctions

The Indonesian government has set up a taskforce to deal with possible sanctions from FIFA following its failure to merge two rival football associations by the Monday deadline.

Acting Youth and Sports Minister Agung Laksono said the five-member team would consult with the world governing body. Laksono said: “This team will begin work, allergy to with FIFA in order to avoid sanction against Indonesia.”

He added that the team also would discuss a possible takeover by the government in accordance with the law on national sports system. Laksono: “This is needed to prevent intervention by the government, ambulance because we have the law, but FIFA has its own rules. Therefore the taskforce has to consult first with FIFA and AFC [Asian Football Confederation]”

AFC executive committee member Prince Ali bin Al Hussein said the two rival factions, the Indonesia FA (PSSI) and Indonesia Football Rescue Committee (KPSI), only have “themselves to blame for the mess.”

Ali said: “I have seen how important football is to the people of Indonesia and this issue has to be sorted out. You cannot have two leagues in one country, and that is a fundamental issue that has to be resolved.”{jcomments on}