Again Asked About Government Intervention, Erick Thohir Pamer About A Letter From The President Of FIFA

PSSI chairman Erick Thohir (right) during a press conference after meeting with President Joko Widodo at the State Palace, Monday, February 20. (Photo: Screenshot of YouTube of the Presidential Secretariat)

JAKARTA The General Chairperson (Ketum) of PSSI, Erick Thohir, dismissed the issue of government intervention. He said that his presence with Menpora Zainudin Amali in the management of PSSI was not a form of intervention.

He said, if their presence was considered a government intervention, of course FIFA would immediately impose sanctions when they were elected to the PSSI Extraordinary Congress, last February 16. At that time, the KLB was attended by representatives from FIFA.

According to Erick, FIFA actually provides support. This is shown by a letter sent by FIFA President Gianni Infantino.

"If this is an intervention, yesterday I was selected, FIFA will immediately give sanctions, how come I even got a letter. In that letter, the President of FIFA personally, these are words I think Exco's colleagues have never received them, usually only FIFA, but this is personally supportive," Erick said at a press conference at the State Palace, Monday, February 20, 2023, as monitored from the official YouTube account of the Presidential Secretariat.

"What does that mean, there is a moral closeness that all of us here are part of international football. FIFA hopes for that change, especially supported by the government," added the former Inter Milan president.

Erick emphasized that the existence of government officials within the parent body of national football cannot be equated with intervention. Instead, he called it a form of cooperation aimed at changing the face of Indonesian football.

He continued that the current management election did not violate the PSSI statutes at all. In addition, all committee members in the 2023-2027 term elected at the extraordinary congress (KLB) have a track record in football.

"I feel that we want to cooperate, not intervene. If the intervention imposes the will of the government. For example, the management is all representatives of the government. This management is forced not according to the statutes," he said.

"No, this is a collaboration between our communities that are indeed sports lovers. My own track record in football is not new, and my love for sports is unquestionable," he continued.