The Football Association of Indonesia (PSSI) has made history by earning official recognition from FIFA for the National Dispute Resolution Chamber (NDRC) Indonesia. This decision announced on Tuesday (January 7, 2025), makes Indonesia the only Asian country to achieve this status.
The recognition results from a long process that began in May 2024. NDRC Indonesia now holds official legitimacy for four years, lasting until January 6, 2029.
During this period, NDRC Indonesia will serve as a FIFA-recognized dispute resolution body for national football. The organization will handle various disputes, ranging from player contracts to issues between clubs and coaches. This provides an effective and efficient mechanism for resolving conflicts within national football without the need to escalate matters to FIFA.
What is NDRC?
According to FIFA's official website, The Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players (RSTP) allow employment-related disputes to be resolved through a national dispute resolution system known as the National Dispute Resolution Chamber (NDRC).
This system addresses disputes between employees (players and coaches) and employers (clubs), provided that it meets minimum procedural requirements.
FIFA-recognized NDRC Indonesia will resolve disputes through arbitration, focusing on employment relationships and contract stability between clubs, players, and coaches. This enables involved parties to settle disputes without resorting to civil courts or FIFA, simplifying and accelerating the resolution process.
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Benefits of NDRC for National Football
As stated on FIFA's official website, NDRC provides a platform for players and coaches to file disputes at a national level. This allows for quicker and more efficient resolution of issues compared to bringing cases to FIFA.
With the establishment of NDRC Indonesia, PSSI now has a more transparent and professional dispute resolution mechanism that aligns with global standards.
Countries with FIFA-Recognized NDRCs
Based on information from FIFA's official website, several countries have FIFA-recognized NDRCs. The list includes:
- Belgium: Royal Belgian Football Association (RBFA), NDRC named Commission Arbitrale de Résolution des Litiges.
- England: The Football Association (The FA), NDRC named English Football NDRC.
- France: French Football Federation (FFF), NDRC named Commission Juridique de la Ligue de Football Professionnel.
- Indonesia: Football Association of Indonesia (PSSI), NDRC named NDRC Indonesia.
- Republic of Ireland: Football Association of Ireland (FAI), NDRC named Dispute Resolution Chamber of the FAI.
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Process for Gaining FIFA Recognition
According to FIFA's official website, to gain recognition, a national dispute resolution system must fulfill several requirements, including:
- Being established by the member association as a national dispute resolution chamber or under an equivalent name.
- Being recognized as an official decision-making body in the statutes of the relevant member association.
- Complying with the principles and revised standard regulations outlined in FIFA's NDRC Recognition Principles.
- Publishing all applicable regulations, procedural rules, and decisions, except for legitimate confidentiality requests.
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Aspirations for Indonesian Football
With FIFA's recognition of Indonesia's NDRC, PSSI demonstrates its commitment to protecting player and coach contracts while strengthening transparent and professional governance in line with global standards.
This recognition is expected to positively impact the overall development of Indonesian football, from boosting player confidence to attracting more investor attention.
Looking ahead, PSSI has ambitious goals to make Indonesian football more competitive on the international stage. This recognition serves as a critical foundation for the advancement of national football, showcasing Indonesia's ability to implement international standards in sports management.
