Erick Thohir: Gov’t Committed to Support the Transformation of Indonesian Football

By Office of Assistant to Deputy Cabinet Secretary for State Documents & Translation     Date 20 Februari 2023
Category: News
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The Head of the Football Association of Indonesia (PSSI) Erick Thohir gives a press statement after meeting President Jokowi at the State Palace in Jakarta, Monday (02/20). (Photo source: a screenshot from Presidential Secretariat YouTube)

The Government is committed to supporting the transformation of Indonesian football, Head of the Football Association of Indonesia (PSSI) Erick Thohir has said.

According to Erick, the government is ready to assist PSSI in building training venues and other infrastructure such as international class match venues.

“The Government is ready to back up PSSI in building a training camp, which is certainly needed by our national team, [and] other infrastructure such as match venues will be used for international championships,” he said following a meeting with President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo and PSSI management board at the State Palace in Jakarta, Monday (02/20).

Erick also stated that football match organization license should be issued by the authority three months before the match season.

“The Government also gives support in licensing and it must be ensured that [the license] will have been issued three months before the match season. It has been a problem for a long time,” he said, adding that the Government will form a task force to eradicate football mafias that fix match scores.

“Chief of the Indonesian National Police (Polri) has already stated it. The Government will give support not only in licensing but also in improving the scoring system. Yesterday, Chief of the Polri had created a task force [to eradicate] football mafia,” he said.

Erick further said that as one of the efforts to improve football in the country, the PSSI will prepare a blueprint to accelerate the national team’s development and fostering football in the country.

Erick pointed out that the blueprint sets big goals, including winning the world’s biggest football competitions.

“This blueprint sets big goals, [so] I am sure that whoever the Government is, whoever the Minister is, whoever the Head of PSSI is, we still have the same goals, waving our national flag and enhancing the reputation of the nation during match seasons and hosting the biggest competition in the world,” he said.

Regarding supporter management in Indonesia, Erick underscored that the PSSI will urge local governments, football clubs, and supporters to join hands to build a good supporter culture and mentality.

“There is also a short-term measure, namely to talk with the clubs, local governments, and fans directly,” he remarked. (MAY/AIT/SND)(KA/DH)

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