F

IFA says none of the candidates it previously barred from the race to lead the Indonesian Soccer Association (PSSI) can stand in the May 20 election, according to a PSSI spokesman.

The world soccer body’s chairman upheld the ban, which included the two most popular candidates, in a meeting with normalization committee chairman Agum Gumelar on Tuesday, PSSI spokesperson Tubagus Adi said.

“Pak Agum [Gumelar] has just finished meeting with FIFA chairman Sepp Blatter. Unfortunately during the meeting FIFA stated that the decision to ban Nurdin Halid, Nirwan Bakrie, George Toisutta and Arifin Panigoro from running in the next election cannot be changed,” Tubagus told The Jakarta Post on
Tuesday.

“FIFA has upheld its letter dated April 4 banning those candidates from running in the election,” Tubagus said.

However, FIFA had yet to approve the PSSI’s decision to form election and appeals committees during a
regular meeting of the normalization committee on April 14 that turned into a congress, according to Tubagus.

“FIFA will meet on [Wednesday] to decide on the matter and they will inform the PSSI of their decision the next day,” Tubagus said.

Indonesian Army chief Gen. George Toisutta, who was nominated to run for PSSI chairman on
April 12, remained atop the list of eight candidates submitted to the selection committee as of Monday.

Rival soccer league organizer and business tycoon Arifin Panigoro remained the second most popular candidate.

Gumelar, who was originally slated to talk with FIFA secretary-general Jerome Valcke and development director Thierry Regenass in Switzerland on Tuesday, also met FIFA president Blatter.

FIFA, which took control of the PSSI after its congress in Riau deadlocked also barred former chairman and graft convict Nurdin Halid and former vice chairman Nirwan Bakrie from the race.

In the aftermath of the congress, FIFA appointed a 7-member normalization committee to prepare the PSSI’s leadership elections.

As of Tuesday evening, 24 people have been nominated to stand in the election, including eight chairman candidates, three vice chairman candidates and 13 executive committee candidates.

George’s nomination was backed by 14 PSSI voting members, while Arifin was backed by 13 members.

Also nominated to run for PSSI chairman were former youth and sports minister Adhyaksa Dault, and former state-owned enterprises minister Laksmana Sukardi.

Nirwan Dermawan Bakrie was nominated to serve again as vice chairman, along with Gatot Haryo Sutedjo and Benhard Limbong.

The list of nominees for the members of the executive committee includes Dodi Reza Alex Nurdin, and former TV journalist Herman Chaniago and Ibnu Munzir.