Jokowi Will Meet FIFA President On October 18

President Jokowi/DOK BPMI Setpres

JAKARTA - President Joko Widodo will meet the President of the Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) Gianni Infantino on October 18, 2022, to discuss the transformation of Indonesian football.

"The FIFA president will come to Indonesia if there is no change on October 18, the President will meet the FIFA president to discuss the transformation of Indonesian football, the letter that FIFA gave to the President", said SOE Minister Erick Thohir at the presidential palace in Jakarta, as reported by ANTARA, Tuesday, October 11th.

Erick Thohir met with Gianni Infantino in Doha, Qatar on October 5, 2022. During the meeting, Gianni said FIFA is ready to support Indonesian football as the most popular sport in Indonesia to become the pride of the people and become one of the pillars that contribute to the progress of the nation.

"FIFA is with the government, AFC, and PSSI in that transformation, we just have to wait for the results of the meeting of the FIFA President and Mr. President because both have communicated, there are several points that have been conveyed by the President", said Erick.

The first discussion is how to audit soccer field facilities in Indonesia. "Which stadium (which) is international, which is national, what is the national standard, what is the international standard, one of which is CCTV, spectators and players cannot enter together", added Erick.

The second thing is the existence of joint training, as well as joint safety standardization.

"Of course, together with the TNI, Police, and the implementing committee so that everyone has the same perception, so they don't blame each other, especially yesterday, a very heartbreaking incident that claimed victims", said Erick.

The third thing is the attitude of the football fans themselves.

"Supporters cannot be part of the transformation, the transformation of England's success in its national football is when the fans are part of the transformation, there are details, one of which is how to form a shared 'database'", continued Erick.

With the change in the attitude of the supporters, according to Erick, football should be able to become a unifying tool, not even take casualties among supporters.

"Fourth, how the match schedule must be by the agreement of various parties, for example, next season this month until the month, and the permit for one roof has been completed, there should be no shift so that security may not be ready, or the community will experience total congestion because there is a football match", said Eric.

According to Erick, these things will be reviewed by FIFA.

"FIFA will have an office in Indonesia, to maintain the transformation of Indonesian football, maybe 3-6 months, it could be a year, depending on our awareness and willingness. I think the letter is clear, FIFA does not prioritize sanctions but football transformation must occur", explained Eric.