Indonesia government officials hope that the lifting of sanctions on the country's FA (PSSI) will "open up the possibility of FIFA overturning a global ban later this week." Indonesian teams have been barred from int'l competition since May '15 when FIFA suspended the country for "government interference." But the latest development, which came on Wednesday, "opens up the possibility that the Indonesians could earn reinstatement at Friday's 66th FIFA Congress in Mexico" (ESPN, 5/12).
FOOTBALL BRIEFS ...
Japan FA President Kozo Tashima said that the East Asian Football Federation will donate $20,000 to the Kumamoto FA to "aid recovery efforts following the recent earthquakes that have rocked Kumamoto and surrounding areas in Kyushu." Tashima, an exec board member of FIFA, said that the Asian Football Confederation and FIFA "also intend to offer support" (KYODO, 5/12).
Jesus Tomillero, who in March "came out as the first openly gay referee in Spanish football," confirmed on Wednesday that he was "leaving the game as the result of the continuing abuse he has received from both players and supporters in the past two months." Tomillero confirmed his decision in the Spanish press in the wake of a game he was refereeing in the Andalusian U19 league. He said that after giving a penalty to San Fernando, one of its supporters "verbally abused him." Tomillero: "The worst thing was that everyone in the crowd laughed" (XINHUA, 5/12).
