Surabaya (Indonesia) (AFP) – Syaiful Arifin loved football as a child but feared his playing days were over when he lost his left leg aged 12 after falling off a train. Now 38, he is back on the field after helping to form Surabaya amputee football club, or PERSAS. The team in Indonesia's second-largest city […]

Jakarta (AFP) – Indonesia’s football association pledged Wednesday that work permits for foreigners would be issued faster after high-profile moves by former English Premier League stars Michael Essien and Carlton Cole were almost scuppered by red tape. The two were signed with great fanfare last month by Persib Bandung, one of the country's best clubs, […]

Bandung (Indonesia) (AFP) – Former Chelsea, AC Milan and Real Madrid midfielder Michael Essien has signed for Indonesia's Persib Bandung, the club announced Tuesday, the highest-profile player to join a team in the country for years. The Ghanaian signed a one-year contract for an undisclosed sum to join Persib, which is one of the best […]

Solo (Indonesia) (AFP) – Indonesia's coach Tuesday praised his hard-working team after they made a triumphant return to international competition following a year-long FIFA ban with a thumping 3-0 victory against regional foes Malaysia. World governing body FIFA suspended Indonesia last year over government meddling after the sports ministry became embroiled in a bitter row […]

Jakarta (AFP) – Indonesia threatened Monday to punish foreign footballers working without proper permits after a watchdog claimed scores of overseas players and coaches had illegally joined local clubs. Local watchdog Save Our Soccer said in a report that 81 foreign footballers and coaches were currently playing in the country without the correct permit. A […]

Jakarta (Indonesia) (AFP) – Indonesia's football chief was due to face questioning over a corruption scandal Wednesday after he was deported from Singapore, ending more than two months on the run. La Nyalla Mattalitti, who was also at the centre of a row last year that led to FIFA banning Indonesia from international football, arrived […]

Jakarta (AFP) – Indonesia has lifted sanctions on its national football body the PSSI, the sports minister said Wednesday, hoping to end the country's international exile by FIFA. Indonesia's sports ministry froze the PSSI and the Southeast Asian nation's football competition following a row over which teams could play in the top league. But world […]