Viral Releases Success Of Indonesian National Team Break 42 Years Record Thanks To Iwan Bule, Menpora: I Support PSSI

Menpora Zainudin Amali (right) with PSSI Chairman Mochamad Iriawan. (Doc. Kemenpora website)

JAKARTA - Minister of Youth and Sports Zainuddin Amali also responded to the PSSI release which went viral on social media after the Indonesian national team beat Kuwait in the inaugural Group A match of the 2023 Asian Cup Qualification on Wednesday, June 8. The release was considered controversial because of the narration of praising PSSI General Chair Mochamad Iriawan.

In the release, the figure who is familiarly called Iwan Bule is considered the main actor in the success of the Indonesian national team breaking the record 42 years ago where the Red and White Team also won 2-1 over Kuwait.

From the information on the PSSI website, the release they published was written by a senior journalist and football observer named Agus Liwulanga. The article was originally published in one of the online media.

The article that was highlighted was "An interesting question for us today is: Who is the main character behind Indonesia's great victory (2-1) over Kuwait? The answer is clear: Iwan Bule..!. Since leading PSSI on November 2 2019, Mochamad Iriawan or Iwan Bule, made a brilliant achievement".

This then caused a stir on social media, the contents of which were mostly criticizing the attitude of the national football parent.

Regarding this, the Minister of Youth and Sports said that the release was legal to be published and there was no need to question it.

"Yes, that's okay. He (Mochamad Iriawan) is the chairman of PSSI," Amali said on Friday, June 10.

Zainudin Amali explained, PSSI as the parent of a sports federation, it is clear that PSSI has a stake in national sports according to Perpes Number 3 of 2019. For him to support whatever PSSI does, which has authority over the sports it manages.

"Yes, I think it's like this, yes. All sporting activities, starting from the President down to the bottom, have a hand. The President specifically issued Presidential Decree Number 3 of 2019 which is his support for accelerating the development of national football. However, indeed, the executor is at PSSI. They walk, yes, everything is in synergy. I support PSSI," he said.

The victory over Kuwait made Indonesia already pack three points and sit in second place in Group A standings, behind Jordan in first position. Furthermore, Indonesia will face Jordan in the second match on Sunday, June 12 in the morning WIB.