KUALA LUMPUR (4 Feb 2012) – Safee Sali, who recently signed a multi-million ringgit deal with Indonesian club Pelita Jaya FC, can still play for the Malaysian national team – at least for the moment. Pelita Jaya FC are playing in the Indonesia Super League (ISL) which is not officially sanctioned by the FA of Indonesia (PSSI).
Datuk Alex Soosay, the general secretary of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) said this week that Safee can still play for Malaysia at least until 22 March 2012.
“FIFA and the AFC have given until 22 March 2012 for the PSSI to sort out their issue with regards to the ISL. I believe that the PSSI will be having a Congress on 18 March to settle the issue of the ISL,” said Datuk Alex.
“But should they fail to find a resolution up to that date then they are in danger of running afoul of FIFA with sanction a big possibility. At the same time too, I would like to say that the AFC had never at any point asked the PSSI to give us the list of players playing in the ISL. That report is not correct.”
In the meantime, the FA of Malaysia (FAM) revealed that they have received a letter from the PSSI informing them that Safee will be banned from representing Malaysia should he continue to play for the unsanctioned ISL.
