FIFA has backed the decision by Indonesian Super League officials to "start the new season on Saturday with 18 clubs and ignore the advice of the government to ban two sides," according to Patrick Johnston of REUTERS. The Indonesian Professional Sports Agency (BOPI), sanctioned by the Youth & Sports Ministry, recommended on Wednesday that 2010 champions Arema Indonesia and Persebaya Surabaya "be removed after concerns about their ownership." League officials said they would "ignore the findings of BOPI's review of all 18 clubs." The season will "kick off as planned" with the backing of the Football Association of Indonesia (PSSI). However, BOPI officials, who "also voiced concerns about the running of 11 other clubs in the troubled league," warned they could take the case to the courts if their recommendations were not followed. A FIFA spokesperson said that they were "monitoring the case" and said only the PSSI was the recognized body to govern the sport. BOPI's review came with the new government "keen to repair football's tarnished image in the country after years of corruption and players going unpaid in the league." Last year's ISL was the first to run with "some sort of cohesion after a merger with the rival Indonesian Premier League, suggesting things were moving on the right path." Further promising signs came on Friday with the Qatar National Bank Group announcing a three-year title sponsorship of the league until '17 (
REUTERS, 4/3).
