Waiting For The Next PSSI BREAK: VAR!

Illustration. (Photo via Antara)

JAKARTA - The All-Indonesian Football Association (PSSI) continues to make improvements. One by one the breakthroughs were made for better national football.

One breakthrough PSSI will make is the use of video assistant referee (VAR) for League 1. According to PSSI General Chair Erick Thohir, VAR will take effect from February 2024 following facilities in several stadiums that have met the requirements.

This was conveyed by Erick Thohir after monitoring the renovation of the Gelora Bung Tomo Stadium (GBT) ahead of FIFA matchday Indonesia vs Palestine.

"I and the guardians and exco re-checked the facilities at GBT, Alhamdulillah it was completed and the FIFA standard. For the league, God willing, in February there will be VAR use, the facilities can also be here," said Erick Thohir, as reported by Antara.

The man who currently also serves as Minister of State-Owned Enterprises (BUMN) then reminded all elements, from local governments to supporters, to keep the stadium feasible and safe for the entire community.

"I remind everyone, from local governments and supporters, to really take care of their safety and be good hosts, because currently Indonesia is still in the process of supervising FIFA, Indonesia's readiness to roll out football is still being monitored," he said.

Therefore, he appealed to all, especially supporters, not to be euphoric as if they were free from FIFA monitoring.

"That needs to be remembered, because there were still riots at the end of the competition season, and July 1 tomorrow the competition will start again. So God willing, we will both protect Indonesian football," he said.

According to him, without cooperation with various parties, especially supporters, it will not be able to change the transformation of football, especially regarding the security of the audience after seeing their proud team compete.

"Indeed, when I was elected, one of the missions I conveyed was to ensure that the fans returned home safely. FIFA itself in a letter given to the President and PSSI at that time also said that it was impossible for the transformation of football to occur without the transformation of its supporters," he said.

One of the efforts he made, of course, through the results of various elements including the police, in the transition period according to the FIFA letter, was that guests were not allowed to attend when his team competed in away matches.

"The football match in Indonesia is temporarily only visited by the host supporters, and because this is also in the political year, we have even discussed how safe it is," said Erick.

He hopes that supporters can become part of the transformation of football, not only Bonek and The Jak as yesterday both have done, but all supporters in the Indonesian League.

"Everything must be part of the transformation of football and they must prove that all supporters return home safely. Please prove we can, if the British, who used to be famous as hoodigan, can do it now, Italy can too, can't do it? This transition is what we have to protect and don't let FIFA's trust disappear and eventually get hit like unwanted things," he said.