Emphasizing To Eradicate Football Mafia, Erick Thohir: I'll Beat Them!

JAKARTA - The general chairman of the Indonesian Football Association (PSSI) Erick Thohir firmly said that his party would not hesitate to eradicate the football mafia that has been involved in fixing scores and hindering the progress of Indonesian football.

"But what I can say for sure is that if someone is messing around, I will beat them up!" said Erick after attending the Workshop and National Coordination Meeting for Winning the National Mandate Party (PAN) Election, at the Padma Hotel Semarang, quoted Monday, February 27.

Previously, Erick Thohir and his party held a press conference with the National Police Chief and FIFA and also warned against bad practices in the world of Indonesian football.

"Anyone who plays match-fixing, whether players, coaches, club owners, exco, even myself, must be punished for life, can't be on football anymore, because if not, it will be damaged," said Erick Thohir.

The number one person in the Ministry of State-Owned Enterprises (BUMN) believes that improving Indonesian football is a big challenge that requires hard work and courage.

“How do we create football with achievement, if the football is dirty? So that's a challenge that I don't think is easy. But I have to face it," he said.

Meanwhile responding to Zainudin Amali's resignation from the Menpora, Erick hopes that the two of them can work together for the good of PSSI.

"I think the selection of PSSI (is) individual. Either the chairman or deputy chairman. Exco is individual. Not a package system. Yes, I have to be able to work with anyone," said Erick Thohir before reporters.