Erick Thohir Ensures Bahrain National Team Is Safe To Play In Indonesia

PSSI Chairman Erick Thohir In Bali/PHOTO: Dafi-VOI

PSSI Chairman Erick Thohir asked the International Football Federation (FIFA) and the Asian Football Federation (AFC) to continue to decide on the Bahrain national team to play in Indonesia in the 2026 World Cup Qualification.

This was in response to the Bahrain Football Association (BFA) which proposed to move locations to AFC against the Indonesian national team in the third round of the 2026 World Cup Qualification for the safety of the Bahrain national team.

"I ask FIFA and AFC to see that our country is safe. Our country, not an underdeveloped country. How do we give it to see yesterday's match against Saudi Arabia against Japan, their supporters are safe. Because Indonesian supporters are great supporters who respect other nations. However, if they are rigged, they are all nations," said Erick while reviewing Domestic Terminal, Bali's I Gusti Ngurah Rai Airport, Thursday, November 21.

The Indonesian national team on March 20, 2025 will compete with the Australian national team and on March 25 against the Bahrain national team.

"So yesterday from Japan he brought a child, brought everyone's wife safe, from Saudi Arabia maybe shocked by the rain, immediately, he was happy. So we make sure the letter that Bahrain said should be moved, yes, we mark the question," he added.

However, Erick believes FIFA and AFC will see the situation in Indonesia. The security of the Bahrain national team is guaranteed.

"But of course FIFA-AFC has seen. I sincerely ask FIFA and AFC to see the facts, not look at the other side. And especially since we have improved the ticketing system, now there is Garuda ID, there is a face recognition, even yesterday the one who helped the cellphone was caught, the one who smoked his face was caught. So yes, we try to take care of it for why, we are doing this because it is for safety and comfort," he said.