Pardon Elkan Baggott, Chairman Of PSSI: Defending The Indonesian National Team Is The Right Of All Players

JAKARTA - PSSI General Chair Mochamad Iriawan said his party had forgiven English defender Elkan Baggott and reopened the opportunity for the Ipswich Town club player to defend the Indonesian national team.

"From my point of view, defending the Indonesian national team is the right of all players. We have forgiven him and asked him to join the Indonesian national team if needed by the coach," said Iriawan, quoted by Antara from the PSSI website in Jakarta, Monday.

The statement was issued after Elkan Baggott sent an apology letter to PSSI on Saturday, October 23 for not being able to join the Indonesian national team.

In his letter, the 19-year-old footballer promised to return to strengthen and give everything for the Indonesian national team. Moreover, the situation of the COVID-19 pandemic in the UK and Indonesia continues to improve with the rise of vaccinations.

The man who was born in Bangkok, Thailand, also explained why he did not come when he was called to strengthen the Garuda squad for the 2022 World Cup Qualification, Asia zone in Dubai, June 2021.

At that time, he said, the British government and his club advised not to move because of the bad COVID-19 situation in Dubai.

"Hopefully you (the General Chairperson of PSSI-ed) understand it," wrote Elkan.

Elkan Baggott, a 1.94-meter centre-back, first represented the Indonesian national team in 2019 in preparation for the U-20 World Cup. He was involved in training camps and test matches in Croatia.

However, after that, Elkan never again wore the Garuda uniform on his chest, including in the senior FIFA tournaments, namely the World Cup Qualifiers and the 2023 Asian Cup Qualification playoffs.

Elkan is also not in the team that will fight in the 2022 U-23 Asian Cup Qualifiers against Australia on Tuesday, October 26 and Friday, October 29.