An arm of the Indonesian government "accused FIFA of insulting the country's sovereignty" after FIFA threatened to ban the Asians over a dispute that has halted the local league, according to Patrick Johnston of REUTERS. The Indonesia Super League "was suspended by the local football association" (PSSI) following Saturday's matches after a row about the eligibility of two clubs with the Indonesian Professional Sports Agency (BOPI), sanctioned by the Youth & Sports Ministry. FIFA "threatened the country with a ban once again over BOPI's meddling in affairs on Saturday and said only the PSSI was recognised to make decisions." BOPI "fired back." It said in a statement, "We think that what FIFA have done is an insult to Indonesia's sovereignty." The report said that "BOPI's actions to insist that Arema Indonesia and Persebaya Surabaya be barred was made because they failed to meet FIFA and Asian Football Confederation criteria." The statement added, "Rightly FIFA should understand that besides FIFA regulation, there are also laws that are applied and must be complied by all national football related parties as part of the Indonesian big family" (REUTERS, 4/13).
