FIFA Ban Indonesian Soccer Chief from Re-election Campaign

According to media reports, the world soccer governing body, FIFA has banned Indonesia Football Federation (PSSI) chairman Nurdin Halid from standing for re-election in an upcoming election.

Nurdin is seeking a third term at the helm, having been imprisoned in 2007 for misusing funds, continuingto run the PSSI from his cell. According to the Jakarta Globe, FIFA president Sepp Blatter made the ruling to ban Nurdin from running in the March 26 election during a meeting in Zurich on Tuesday, March 8.

The paper quoted Indonesian ambassador to Switzerland, Joko Susilo as stating: “Sepp Blatter said FIFA upholds the statutes that state that a convict cannot lead a football organisation. If Nurdin is re-elected, FIFA won’t legitimise the election result. They want Indonesian football to be much better.”

However, Nurdin told Metro TV that he does not believe he has been barred from participating in the elections. “The information from the ambassador must be untrue because the decision of FIFA’s executive committee meeting (on March 3) has been received by the PSSI and it is impossible for FIFA to issue any decisions outside the meeting,” he said.