President Prabowo Subianto and FIFA President Discuss Cooperation to Develop Indonesian Football
President Prabowo Subianto Monday (10/5) received President of the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) Gianni Infantino at the Merdeka Palace, Jakarta.
During the meeting, they discussed strengthening cooperation to develop football in Indonesia.
Minister of Youth and Sports Erick Thohir said the President places great importance on developing sports,, particularly football.
According to him, the President sees sports as a means not only of achieving sporting excellence but also of shaping the character of Indonesia’s younger generation and the nation as a whole.
“President Prabowo Subianto emphasized the importance of football and the role of sports in shaping the nation’s character. He is therefore fully committed to developing sports across the country as an integral part of national development,” the Minister said.
According to the Minister, the President also called for sports facilities at both the regional and the national levels to be used to their full potential through cooperation with sports clubs.
The Government, he added, also reaffirmed its support for FIFA and expressed Indonesia’s readiness to support international football events in the future.
“The President also expressed his full support for FIFA and thanked the organization for staging events such as the U-17 World Cup and FIFA ASEAN. He also reaffirmed the Indonesian Government’s readiness to support future FIFA events,” he added.
Meanwhile, Gianni Infantino expressed his appreciation for President Prabowo Subianto’s commitment to advancing Indonesian football. According to him, the President’s passion for the game aligns with his vision of sports as a means of contributing to Indonesia’s development.
“He has a deep passion for football and understands the game very well, driven by his love for both the sport and his country. He understands what the country needs and how football, and sports in general, can make a positive contribution,” Gianni said.
Gianni added that the meeting also discussed strategies and a shared vision for investment in sports, particularly football, in Indonesia. FIFA, he said, is ready to collaborate on a range of projects.
“We discussed the overall strategy and vision for investment in stadiums, football pitches, schools, and other areas related to sports and football in Indonesia. We will work with the federation on these projects,” he concluded.
The meeting reaffirmed the commitment of Indonesia and FIFA to strengthening cooperation in football development, with a focus on achieving sporting excellence, improving sports facilities, and building character among young people. (BPMI of Presidential Secretariat) (RD/MEP)
