FIFA urges local body to elect new head

The Jakarta Post ,  Jakarta   |  Wed, 10/31/2007 4:49 PM

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

World soccer governing body FIFA told the Soccer Association of Indonesia (PSSI) to hold a new election to replace graft convict chairman Nurdin Halid, who was reelected in April.

""FIFA sent a letter (to PSSI) in June 2007 indicating that the association must reorganize elections, as the electoral process that took place on April 20, 2007 -- the day after the ratification of the updated statutes -- was not conducted in line with the timelines stipulated in the PSSI statutes,"" FIFA said in a statement on its official website.

""The committee ratified this decision and also decided that in accordance with the statutes, a person who has been convicted of a crime and is currently in prison would not be eligible to stand for election,"" it said.

The issue was among several specific cases discussed by FIFA's committee meeting presided over by Vice President Geoff Thompson in Zurich, Switzerland, on Sunday.

""We need to uphold our statutes for the protection of the game in countries that face difficulties, whether through internal strife or external governmental interference,"" Thompson was quoted as saying in the statement.

Nurdin -- who is also a member of the House of Representatives representing Golkar Party -- was reelected for a second term as PSSI chairman in his hometown of Makassar, South Sulawesi.

He was arrested in Jakarta late last month after the Supreme Court found him guilty in a corruption case related to the misuse of palm oil distribution funds at the Sate Logistics Agency in 1998.

He was sentenced to two years in prison and ordered to pay a fine of Rp 30 million (US$3,198).

The Supreme Court verdict overturned rulings by the South Jakarta District and the Jakarta High Court acquitting Nurdin.

PSSI secretary-general Nugraha Besoes declined to comment on the FIFA statement.

""We will disclose the issue to the public within one or two days,"" he was quoted by Antara as saying.

""In fact, the problem was settled during a meeting in Kuala Lumpur (at the headquarters of Asian Football Confederation). But I will explain it later.""

Soccer observers have called on PSSI to call a special meeting to elect a new chairman, emphasizing Nurdin's case would further tarnish the already-tainted international image of Indonesian soccer.

Indonesia is struggling to rid the domestic game of match-fixing, violence and corruption. It received much credit for its success in co-hosting the Asian Cup in July.

However, the PSSI, through its executive committee, earlier rejected the idea of replacing Nurdin, saying a new election ""must be proposed by two-thirds of PSSI club members and the proposal must be agreed upon by two-thirds of committee members"".

""So far, we haven't received any such proposal,"" executive committee spokesman Mafirion said last month.

He also said the day-to-day operations of the organization would not be affected by the absence of Nurdin, with deputy chairman Nirwan D. Bakrie to take over Nurdin's tasks.

It is the second time Nurdin, who has led PSSI since 2003, has been sent to jail. Two years ago, Nurdin was implicated in a corruption case and was forced to run the organization from behind bars.

Besides the palm oil case, there are several other outstanding cases allegedly involving Nurdin, including graft at the Clove Marketing and Buffer Stock Agency.

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