Jakarta. The Asian Football Confederation, or AFC, has called on its members to pursue reconciliation with state governments to avoid being sanctioned by FIFA, its executive committee said during a meeting at the confederation's headquarters in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on Tuesday (28/02).

FIFA, the international governing body of association football, states that members of the association cannot be interfered upon by any government. However, it is acceptable for governments to provide operational funds to their respective football associations.

Indonesia is one of several countries which has recently been accused of state interference in its national football association, resulting in the suspension of the Indonesian Football Association, or the PSSI, from entering any FIFA regulated matches. The suspension lasted from May 2015 to May 2016.

Kuwait, a country currently accused of government interference by FIFA, has seen two suspensions to their football association in recent years.

AFC president Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa said earlier this week, "I was recently in Indonesia, who we have welcomed back to the football family, and it demonstrated to me — and should remind us all — of the damage caused by government interference. Indonesia now has our full support as they look to rebuild their football."

"We have to stand very firm in support of our member associations in the face of interference and intervention from their governments. We recognize that some issues are more complicated than others, but we must act to protect the future of football and footballers in these countries," Mr. Al Khalifa added.

With new resolutions to improve good governance within the organization, the AFC has been taking an active role in resolving its members' disputes with other parties. Mr. Al Khalifa has been an outspoken voice in the latest conflict between Israel-Palestine, calling on FIFA to find a solution to the dispute as quickly as possible.