Support For PSSI Chairman Erick Thohir Never Stops, A Day Uploaded By One Account Reaches 4.8 Million Views

Ketua Umum PSSI, Erick Thohir. (Foto: Dok. Antara)

JAKARTA - Even though the final decision has been made by FIFA and Indonesia has been canceled from hosting the U-20 World Cup, support for football has never stopped. Apart from the loyal support given to the U-20 national team players who have had to bury their dreams, sympathy continues to flow to the General Chairperson of PSSI, Erick Thohir, who has struggled to lobby FIFA in Doha, Qatar, last Wednesday, March 29.

The support and sympathy that was expressed for Erick Thohir was not only through his personal social media accounts, both on Instagram, Twitter and also on TikTok. However, other accounts, both independent and those belonging to football observers who suddenly rose to prominence due to the issue of canceling the U-20 World Cup, attracted a lot of public attention, and were also bombarded with expressions of extraordinary solidarity and support for the Minister of SOEs.

One example on Twitter belongs to Rudi Valinka @kurawa. Since uploading a photo of Erick Thohir having a dialogue with FIFA President, Gianni Infantino in Doha, Qatar, March 29 2023, with the caption, "Breaking News!! (THREAD). The reason FIFA canceled Indonesia's hosting of the U-20 World Cup" in just a short time one day has been watched 4.8 million times.

All the responses given by Twitter connoisseur Rudi Valinka @kurawa were very positive. Starting from the encouragement uttered by @ahmad izuddin, @ananda, @adrian Z, @sutopo user, or @betty tong, to opinions, such as from @ka Accessories Cijerah who wrote, why is football mixed in with politics, sir. Sympathy for the U-20 National Team was also represented on Rudi Valinka's Twitter account @kurawa in countless numbers.

Not only on social media. When Erick Thohir delivered an official statement at the Presidential Palace, Friday 31 March after meeting President Joko Widodo to report the results of the meeting with the FIFA President, a shower of praise, prayers and sympathy also emerged from the audience who followed via you tube the Indonesian presidential secretariat.

A rather long phrase was conveyed by Andi Mountureng who wrote, “I want to thank you very much for fighting so far sir. Mr. Erick's struggles and endeavors are not playing games, we should appreciate his greatness."

The same thing was also conveyed by _Adinda Putra who encouraged him, "Keep fighting, Mr. Erick. keep up the spirit.. don't pay attention to people who aren't clear."

In fact, Ambar Anandyra paid more attention while watching the live broadcast by commenting, "You look really tired, Mr. Erick, but still enthusiastic for the progress of Indonesian football... Great."

An attitude of solidarity was also shown by some of the spectators. Like a young man on the move asking Erick Thohir to continue, “keep fighting, Mr. Erick. Real Work Always. Football awake with pack ET.”