Indonesian Sports Minister Threatens to Sue Top Football Officials

Indonesia's sports minister threatened to drag senior members of the country's football association to court if their decision to keep their corrupt chief at the helm leads to a FIFA ban, a spokesman said Monday.

FIFA, football's world governing body, in October last year called for fresh elections to replace Nurdin Halid as president of Indonesia's football association, PSSI, after he was convicted of graft earlier in the year. However, PSSI officials have remained steadfast in refusing to get rid of Halid -- despite the disgraced chief heading the organisation from inside a prison cell -- leading to a deadlock with the sports ministry.

"The minister will sue PSSI if FIFA bans the association due to its decision to let Nurdin Halid (continue) holding office," ministry spokesman Ruwono told AFP. Ruwono said Minister Adhyaksa Dault has already conveyed his message directly to PSSI officials during a recent meeting. "They (PSSI officials) will be sued for disseminating false information.They're always saying there will be no problems if Halid stays on as PSSI chief," he explained.

However, Ruwono conceded that FIFA had not yet indicated it would bar PSSI from membership of the global body. Under Indonesia's legal system, a person successfully sued for defamation or "disseminating false information" can face criminal sanctions, including prison.