KUALA LUMPUR, Sept. 30 -- Indonesia's youth and sports minister Erick Thohir has denied allegations that his country played a role in the sanctions imposed by Fifa on the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) and seven naturalised national players.

Thohir, who also chairs the Football Association of Indonesia, said Indonesia does not interfere in the internal affairs or sporting policies of other nations, according to a Free Malaysia Today report.

"We do not interfere with the politics or policies of other countries, but of course, we want sports in Indonesia to progress," he said, as quoted by online news portal Detik20.

"We want our football to improve, badminton to excel, pencak silat to go global. We aim for our sports to advance,...