Hendro Situmorang, Jakarta – State-Owned Enterprise Minister Erick Thohir was elected as the chairman of the Indonesian Football Associaton (PSSI) during a national congress in Jakarta on Thursday, only three months before Indonesia hosts the U-20 World Cup, the first FIFA tournament to be held in the country.
Erick got 64 votes or more than 50 percent of all votes from the association's provincial chapters, 18 clubs of Liga 1, 15 clubs from Liga 2, 16 clubs from Liga 3, the futsal federation, the women's football association, and the football coaches association.
His strongest rival, former PSSI chairman and sitting senator La Nyalla Mattaliti only received 22 votes. Two other candidates didn't get a single vote during the voting that lasted only 38 minutes.
"Thank you to all voters for the mandate. This is a huge responsibility for me," Erick said in his acceptance speech.
He said his goal is to make sure that every football lover in the country can enjoy the game and support their team in the stadium without fear.
His remarks came only four months after more than 130 people were killed in a crush following riots between spectators and security officials at Kanjuruhan Stadium in the East Java town of Malang.
Despite his success to win the PSSI chairmanship, Erick insisted that he hasn't won anything until the country produces young talents with international competitiveness and the national team brings home a trophy.
"Nothing is impossible if we work together so I call on all candidates, the executive committee, club owners, provincial chapter officials, footballers, supporters, and every football lover who dreams of clean and successful Indonesian football, let's put an end to differences and debates," he said.
"Today is the time to speak about the guts so I sincerely ask your permission to prove my guts and work for Indonesian football."
President Joko Widodo congratulated Erick for his election and conveyed his hope that the new chairman is able to reform the national football, "so that out football is rejuvenated at least at the ASEAN level".
Source: https://jakartaglobe.id/news/erick-thohir-elected-pssi-chairman-ahead-of-u20-world-cu