FIFA Ends Indonesia's Suspension from Football after Almost a Year

Mexico City, 07 Sya’ban 1437/15 May 2016 (MINA) – FIFA President Gianni Infantino said the world governing body’s council ended Indonesia’s ban after its government agreed to lift an order considered to constitute unacceptable interference in the football federation.

Infantino told delegates the decision on Indonesia, one of Asia’s biggest soccer markets, was taken by the FIFA Council after the government agreed to lift a decree considered to constitute unacceptable interference in the soccer federation.”

“The government of Indonesia has advised us that the decree that was causing the suspension had been lifted,” said Infantino, who succeeded Sepp Blatter in February.

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The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) welcomed Indonesia back into the “Asian football family” and said it would continue to fight any government interference in the running of the game, bbc.com was quoted by Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA) as reporting.

“… the AFC Executive Committee reiterated this week their continued stand against government intervention in sport generally and soccer in particular,” the regional governing body said in a statement on Saturday.

Earlier this week, Indonesia’s sports minister Imam Nahrawi said he had discussed a deal with president Joko Widodo for former Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho to become national coach.

Indonesia are 185th in the Fifa rankings. (T/R07/R01)

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Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)