FIFA has recently announced the imposition of registration bans on four Indonesian football clubs, including Persija Jakarta, preventing them from signing new players for the next three transfer windows. This decision was disclosed on the federation’s official website earlier this week, impacting a total of five Indonesian clubs.
In addition to Persija, the other clubs facing registration bans are Persiwa Wamena, Persiraja Banda Aceh, Persikab Kabupaten Bandung, and Sada Sumut FC, all of which are prohibited from registering any new players and making any signings during the upcoming transfer windows.
While FIFA has not disclosed the specific reasons for imposing these sanctions, it is widely speculated that long-standing financial issues may have been a contributing factor. For instance, Persija Jakarta has been embroiled in a well-documented financial dispute with player Marko Simic, who alleged that the club failed to pay him for an entire year during the COVID-19 pandemic. These financial challenges could have led to FIFA’s decision to impose the registration ban on Persija and the other Indonesian clubs.
Similarly, Persiraja Banda Aceh faced financial difficulties following their relegation from the Liga 1 in 2022, prompting the resignation of the club’s president and subsequent takeover by Islamic cleric/businessman Zulfikar Syahabuddin. Persikab Kabupaten Bandung also grappled with financial woes during the pandemic, with reports of unpaid players despite the club’s management denying any financial arrears. The reasons behind Sada Sumut FC’s inclusion in the list remain unknown.
These bans have underscored the financial challenges faced by football clubs in Indonesia, with several other notable Southeast Asian teams also being included in FIFA’s list. The affected clubs include defunct teams such as Global FC (Philippines), Than Quang Ninh (Vietnam), Melaka United (Malaysia), Perlis FA (Malaysia), Muangkan United (Thailand), and Ubon United (Thailand), as well as crisis clubs Kelantan FC and Sarawak United (both from Malaysia), and Malaysian duo Kedah Darul Aman and Kuala Lumpur City FC.
Additionally, FIFA’s list also features prominent clubs from other regions, such as Hyderabad FC (India), Esteghlal FC (Iran), Bunyodkor FC (Uzbekistan), Qadsia SC (Kuwait), and several Chinese clubs. The inclusion of these well-known teams serves as a stark reminder of the financial difficulties faced by football clubs across the globe.
In response to the registration bans, Persija Jakarta and Persikab Kabupaten Bandung have expressed their commitment to resolving the issues that led to the sanctions. Persiraja Banda Aceh is awaiting a decision from the Football Federation of Indonesia (PSSI) regarding the matter.
While the reasons behind FIFA’s decision remain undisclosed, the imposition of registration bans on these Indonesian clubs sheds light on the financial struggles plaguing football teams in the country and serves as a call to action for addressing these challenges within the sport.
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