The election of a PSSI chairperson and deputy as well as the executive committee members for the 2023-2027 period will take place at the PSSI Extraordinary Congress (KLB) in Jakarta on 16 Feb.
By
MUHAMMAD IKHSAN MAHAR
·5 minutes read
ADRYAN YOGA PARAMADWYA
SOE Minister Erick Thohir (left) accompanied by Main Director Persis Solo Kaesang Pangarep (right) delivered a press statement after submitting the registration file for the candidate for the PSSI Chairperson for the 2023-2027 period at the PSSI Office, GBK Arena, Jakarta, Sunday (15/1/2023).
JAKARTA, KOMPAS — State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) Minister Erick Thohir and former secretary general of the Indonesian Football Association (PSSI) Ratu Tisha are currently vying for PSSI’s top post for the 2023-2027 period, promising to get rid of the scathing "cancer" in the organization.
As of Sunday (15/1/2023), three prospective candidates submitted their candidacy forms, with the other being Regional Representatives Council (DPD) speaker and former PSSI chairman La Nyalla Mattalitti.
Outgoing chairman Mochamad Iriawan (2019-2023) and his deputy Iwan Budianto have decided not to seek a second term. "I have accomplished my service for the PSSI," Iriawan said.
An election committee with its appeal body was formed during the 2023 PSSI Ordinary Congress in Jakarta on Sunday (15/1) with the task to prepare for the organization’s succession process.
The election of a PSSI chairperson and deputy as well as the executive committee members for the 2023-2027 period will take place at the PSSI Extraordinary Congress (KLB) in Jakarta on 16 Feb.
The candidacy registration opens until Monday (16/1) at 6 p.m.
"The election process will remain the same as the previous KLB [in 2019]. The chairperson and deputy chairperson are elected separately. Before the election, candidate chairpersons and deputies are given their chances to meet the voters to convey their vision and mission," election committee chairman Amir Burhanuddin said. The task to lead the KLB has prompted him to take leave from his daily duty as PSSI of East Java chapter deputy chairman and resign from his CEO position in Deltras FC.
Former chairman
While La Nyalla submitted his candidacy form on Friday (13/1), Erick and Tisha submitted theirs to the PSSI office at the Gelora Bung Karno sports compound on Sunday. Erick and Tisha arrived just half an hour apart.
“We will ensure there will be no dirty hands [in Indonesian football] in the future. We have to fix it for the sake of clean [organization] and performing Indonesian football," Erick said.
We will ensure there will be no dirty hands [in Indonesian football] in the future.
La Nyalla was elected as PSSI chairman for the 2015-2019 period but his tenure lasted only a year due to the Youth and Sports Ministry’s intervention. As a result, Indonesia’s PSSI membership status was suspended by the soccer world governing body FIFA. Having its status reinstated, the PSSI held a KLB in 2016, which chose Edy Rahmayadi as the 2016-2019 chairman before being succeeded by Iriawan.
Submitting his candidacy files to the PSSI, Erick was accompanied by officials of several clubs, including those from Persib Bandung, Bali United, Persis Solo, RANS Nusantara, Bekasi City, Nusantara United and Sriwijaya FC. His experience in club management goes beyond Indonesia, having bought a majority share ownership at foreign clubs, such as DC United (United States), Inter Milan (Italy) and Oxford United (England). He is also reported to have a close relationship with FIFA President Gianni Infantino.
ANTARA FOTO/AKBAR NUGROHO GUMAY
Indonesian striker, Dendy Sulistyawan (second left), and his team-mates celebrate the goal he scored against the Philippines in the continuation of the Group A preliminary match for the 2022 AFF Cup football championship at the Rizal Memorial Stadium, Manila, Philippines, Monday (2/1/2023) evening . Indonesia won, 2-1..
Tisha came to the PSSI office accompanied by officials of PSSI of Banten chapter, PSSI of Maluku chapter, PSIM Yogyakarta, Perserang Serang and Persekat Tegal. In her tenure as secretary general for 2017-2020, the PSSI brought the hosting of the U-20 World Cup to Indonesia and appointed Shin Tae-yong as current coach of the Garuda national team.
Meanwhile, La Nyalla claimed to have received support from PSSI of East Java chapter and Persela Lamongan. Despite the meager backup, La Nyalla said he did not feel overawed in facing Erick in contention for the PSSI chairman position.
"All [election process) hasn't taken place yet. Let's just go through it," he said.
Tisha is keen to resume her PSSI tenure after resigning from the position of secretary-general in April 2020. She said she was determined to improve competition management, early-age football development and PSSI organizational management.
Fajar Junaedi, a national football observer, blamed weak governance for what he saw as stalled development of Indonesian football, marked by controversy-prone competition.
"Our football needs rejuvenation through new figures in the federation with good track records in managing football," he said.
He welcomed Erick and Tisha's candidacy, saying both had proven themselves in football management. He hailed Erick as having built a fairly good track record thanks to his experience in managing Inter Milan. As for Tisha, he said she had good managerial and administrative skills as well as a qualified network at the international level.
Election committee
During the PSSI Ordinary Congress in Jakarta on Sunday, PSSI Secretary-General Yunus Nusi said the election committee's first task was to finalize the registration process for the candidates of chairperson, deputy chairperson and the PSSI executive committee, which is scheduled to be closed on Monday (16/1) at 6 p.m.
The committee will announce the candidate names and screen their administrative documents.
Entering February, the election committee expects to have permanent candidates to run for the chairperson seat, two deputy positions and 12 PSSI executive committee members for 2023-2027. The election will feature 87 voters.
