Nurdin Halid’s penchant for overturning other people’s decisions may finally return to haunt him.
Thanks to the Indonesian Football Association (PSSI) chairman’s decision to weigh in on a club dispute, world football governing body FIFA has raised the specter of the Indonesian national side and all professional clubs being suspended from competitions.
The reason why is a long story that dates to 2008, when Premier Division club Persikabo Bogor terminated the contract of Noah Bakena without explanation or compensation. Bakena complained he was owed a large payment.
The Cameroonian’s fight for a payout led him to overstay his visa, for which he was detained for two months. The Indonesian Players’ Association, FIFPro, an international players’ association, and the Australian Players’ Association combined to secure his release and help him bring his case to the FIFA Dispute Resolution Chamber.
FIFA ordered Persikabo to pay Bakena the remainder of his contract by Feb. 11, 2010. It failed to do so, and the FIFA Disciplinary Committee subsequently ordered three points to be deducted from Persikabo and fined the club 6,000 Swiss francs.
PSSI secretary general Nugraha Besoes then announced on April 4 that the PSSI had decided in an executive committee meeting to overturn the three-point penalty, claiming that the club had paid Bakena and the fine.
That reinstatement of three points allowed Persikabo to move past PS Mojokerto Putra and into the Premier Division playoffs.
PSMP, which had finished two points ahead of Persikabo, complained to FIFA, which said in a tartly worded letter to the PSSI on April 15— it was leaked late last week — that the points penalty “cannot subsequently be withdrawn.”
It said failure to comply would lead to penalties against the PSSI. FIFA “would have to pronounce an appropriate sanction against the Football Association of Indonesia. This can lead to expulsion from all FIFA competitions,” it warned.
In a worst-case scenario, that could mean a complete shutdown of competitive club and national football.
In a bid to head that off, Indonesian officials will meet today to examine the case, said Joko Driyono, the CEO of league administrator PT Liga Indonesia.
“It is just a consultation meeting, so the final decision may not be reached in the meeting. It will issue a recommendation, and after that the PSSI or PTLI will make a decision on the case,” he said.
The Premier League playoffs, which were set to begin this Wednesday, have been delayed pending the decision.
FIFA previously penalized Persisam Samarinda for failing to pay former coach Vata Matanu Garcia. Persisam suffered a similar fine and three-point deduction, only for Nurdin to overturn the penalty.
Thanks to the Indonesian Football Association (PSSI) chairman’s decision to weigh in on a club dispute, world football governing body FIFA has raised the specter of the Indonesian national side and all professional clubs being suspended from competitions.
The reason why is a long story that dates to 2008, when Premier Division club Persikabo Bogor terminated the contract of Noah Bakena without explanation or compensation. Bakena complained he was owed a large payment.
The Cameroonian’s fight for a payout led him to overstay his visa, for which he was detained for two months. The Indonesian Players’ Association, FIFPro, an international players’ association, and the Australian Players’ Association combined to secure his release and help him bring his case to the FIFA Dispute Resolution Chamber.
FIFA ordered Persikabo to pay Bakena the remainder of his contract by Feb. 11, 2010. It failed to do so, and the FIFA Disciplinary Committee subsequently ordered three points to be deducted from Persikabo and fined the club 6,000 Swiss francs.
PSSI secretary general Nugraha Besoes then announced on April 4 that the PSSI had decided in an executive committee meeting to overturn the three-point penalty, claiming that the club had paid Bakena and the fine.
That reinstatement of three points allowed Persikabo to move past PS Mojokerto Putra and into the Premier Division playoffs.
PSMP, which had finished two points ahead of Persikabo, complained to FIFA, which said in a tartly worded letter to the PSSI on April 15— it was leaked late last week — that the points penalty “cannot subsequently be withdrawn.”
It said failure to comply would lead to penalties against the PSSI. FIFA “would have to pronounce an appropriate sanction against the Football Association of Indonesia. This can lead to expulsion from all FIFA competitions,” it warned.
In a worst-case scenario, that could mean a complete shutdown of competitive club and national football.
In a bid to head that off, Indonesian officials will meet today to examine the case, said Joko Driyono, the CEO of league administrator PT Liga Indonesia.
“It is just a consultation meeting, so the final decision may not be reached in the meeting. It will issue a recommendation, and after that the PSSI or PTLI will make a decision on the case,” he said.
The Premier League playoffs, which were set to begin this Wednesday, have been delayed pending the decision.
FIFA previously penalized Persisam Samarinda for failing to pay former coach Vata Matanu Garcia. Persisam suffered a similar fine and three-point deduction, only for Nurdin to overturn the penalty.
