Weak Indonesia side PSSI’s decison, not FIFA’s

GOAL – MANAMA, A FIFA letter has revealed that the world’s governing body had originally advised the Indonesian Football Association’s (PSSI) not to field a weakened side for the last week’s 10-0 World Cup qualifying loss to Bahrain.

While PSSI had previously claimed that players belonging to the country’s rogue Indonesian Super League (ISL) were sanctioned at the world’s governing body’s request, correspondence between FIFA and the PSSI recently obtained by Goal.com indicates that this may not be true.

Indonesia fielded a weakened team against Bahrain in their final World Cup qualifier with their elimination already confirmed, opting not to include players from the newly-formed breakaway ISL which isn’t recognised by FIFA.

Qatar, who were also in Indonesia’s qualifying group, raised the complaint with FIFA ahead of the game, as they feared Bahrain could leapfrog them to qualify for the next round with a favourable result.

The FIFA letter to PSSI General Secretary Tri Goestoro, dated February 16, read: “We […] urge the PSSI to immediately refrain from selecting and fielding a totally new contingent of players, who [have not] taken part in the previous matches of the 2nd and 3rd round of the Asian 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil Qualifiers.

“Please be informed that a deliberate infringement of Article 5 paragraph 4c) and of Article 5 paragraph 4g) as well as Article 4, paragraph 2 would be reported to the FIFA judicial bodies for the subsequent appropriate action.”

The PSSI responded to the letter by clarifying that players in the ISL had been sanctioned for one year; the explanation was accepted by FIFA and the PSSI went on to call up players from the country’s recognised Indonesian Premier League.

Adding to the complex situation is the case of Malaysia international Safee Sali, who participated in a FIFA-recognized international friendly against the Philippines in late February despite playing for the ISL’s Pelita Jaya.

In response to inquiries from Goal.com, a FIFA media officer declared the matter to be an internal PSSI issue and further indicated that the PSSI will be reported to the FIFA Associations Committee for review should the matter of the ISL not be resolved by March 20.