Football revival in Indonesia · Global Voices
Juke Carolina

The Indonesian National Team was defeated in the second game of the championship match against Malaysia's football team, the Tiger of Malaya. Despite the 2-1 result in favor of Indonesia, the Malaysian team won through accumulated goals.
The ASEAN Football Federation Cup final between Indonesia and Malaysia has been the year end's most anticipated event.
Previously on Boxing Day, at the Bukit Jalil Stadium, Malaysia won the first leg match 3-0 against Indonesia.
Since the start of the AFF Cup, the Indonesian team has managed to pull together nationalism, media attention, and controversies.
The match at GBK Stadium Jakarta. Photo by Plixi user Citra.
Indonesian supporters. Photo by Plixi user Hasanuddin Ali.
Live viewing at one of Jakarta's shopping malls. Photo by Ranie Primza.
Most offices and public gatherings, such as reunions and gallery openings also held live viewing of the game. Photo by Prast Lampard.
For the first time in the Indonesian football history, and thanks to the social media such as Twitter, the football fans can freely cheer for the National team, speak out their minds about the future of Indonesian football, and even connect with some of the athletes.
@bepe20 : Ternyata 6 kemenangan dan hanya sekali kalah, belum mampu membawa pulang trophy itu saudara-saudara.. Tetap Semangat…!!!
However, the AFF Cup 2010 was also marred with controversies. Starting from the laser pointers used to distract the goal keeper during a couple of matches, ticket distribution chaos, and the public demand for the controversial PSSI (Indonesian Football Association)'s president Nurdin Halid to resign.
Indonesian football fans blamed Halid [id] for the rampant corruption in the PSSI body which caused, among others, lack of improvement of football facilities in the country, fans’ injuries during football matches due to weak security, and rigged matches caused by corrupt referees.
During the Indonesia vs. Malaysia final match, die hard supporters  flew a banner saying “Nurdin Turun” (means step down Nurdin!).
Supporters’ banner and yell demanding Halid to step down. Video via eihcrats.
The movement demanding the replacement of Halid resonates on Twitter and Facebook.