Indonesian govt shrugs off FIFA suspension

The Indonesian government on Sunday said FIFA’s decision to suspend it should not be “mourned excessively” and authorities were now focused on reforming the country’s crisis-wracked football.

The ban, announced on Friday, means Indonesia cannot compete in world football and makes the national side ineligible for June matches that are qualifiers for both the 2018 World Cup and 2019 Asian Cup. The sports ministry, whose move to oust the Indonesian football association (PSSI) sparked the crisis, defended its actions and said the ban was “really not what we wanted”.  But it added in a statement: “FIFA’s sanction need not be mourned excessively.” “We must be confident and believe that if reform of national football can be done with full sincerity, consistency, transparency and with better governance, then achieving great performance will no longer be a dream.” football management.