"I do not want to engage in assumptions. Let the process run its course naturally," he said.
Bandung, West Java (ANTARA News) - Army Chief of Staff General George Toisutta said he did not want to assume things with regard to his chances to be elected the new chief of the All Indonesia Football Association (PSSI).

"I do not want to engage in assumptions. Let the process run its course naturally," he said to ANTARA News when asked about the issue here on Friday.

He said it would be up to the ongoing process in line with the decision of the world football governing body FIFA.

FIFA vice president Ali bin Al Hussein said during his visit earlier this week that he would study the challenges faced by PSSI to ensure that it could implement a congress to choose its new chief next month smoothly.

FIFA, he said, would also study the problems of the candidacy of George Toiustta and Arifin Panigoro that had been rejected by FIFA but was still supported by 78 voters.

"It will all be reported to FIFA," he said.

Ali`s arrival in Indonesia gave rise to many speculations among football circles because Agum Gumelar, chairman of the PSSI Normalization Committee, had said he did not know who had invited Ali to Indonesia.

The speculations turned wilder after Ali proved not to know about FIFA`s decision to scrap the names of George Toisutta and Arifin Panigoro from the list of candidates for PSSI chief for 2011-2015.

Ali plans to meet with George Toisutta and had dinner with the Group of 78 voters that supports George. Therefore, speculations are rife that George Toisutta still has a chance to run for the PSSI general chairmanship.

When asked about it, Agum Gumelar said "for the Normalization Committee it will not be a problem if later George Toisutta and Arifin Panigoro are allowed to run. I will implement it."

He said Ali had come to Indonesia as FIFA vice president and not in a personal capacity. Ali had indeed expressed his care about Indonesian football.

"But whether it will mean that there is a possibility to change FIFA`s decision (on Toisutta) , I do not know," Agum said.(*)

Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2011