Controversy Surrounds Election Committee

KOMPAS/MUHAMMAD IKHSAN MAHAR

PSSI election chairman Amir Burhannudin gave a statement to the media after the PSSI Ordinary Congress, Sunday (15/1/2023), in Jakarta. Amir is tasked with making the PSSI nomination process successful for the 2023-2027 period.

JAKARTA, KOMPAS – The Indonesian Football Association (PSSI) Election Committee has the important task of determining prospective candidates to fill three main positions in the PSSI Executive Committee (Exco), namely chairman, deputy chairman and the committee’s members. For this reason, the Election Committee must act independently to realize the hopes of reforming national soccer.

Controversy has surrounded the PSSI Election Committee since it was formed at the 2023 PSSI ordinary congress in Jakarta on Sunday (15/1/2023). The seven members of the PSSI Election Committee already violated Article 64 of the PSSI Statute, which prohibits members of the soccer community from becoming members of the committee.

Two of the seven members, namely Amir Burhannudin and Sudarmadji, both have ties to the soccer community. Amir is deputy chairman of the PSSI East Java Provincial Association (Asprov) and CEO of Deltras FC, a contestant of Liga 2. Meanwhile, Sudarmadji is secretary of Arema FC.

Amir stressed that he had left his position at PSSI Asprov East Java and resigned as CEO of Deltras FC. Sudarmadji also decided to leave his club’s management.

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Controversy resurfaced again when Amir’s name was included in the list of 85 prospective PSSI Exco members for the 2023-2027 period. Amir claimed he was registered as a PSSI member.

“Until now I have not submitted a [candidacy] confirmation form because members of the Election Committee cannot make a nomination or be nominated,” Amir said on Tuesday (17/1).

To register as a prospective PSSI Exco member, a person must be endorsed by at least one PSSI member. Registration documents can be submitted by individuals who wish to become Exco members or other PSSI members.

Ahead of the 2023 PSSI ordinary congress, PSSI has 1,093 members. The majority of them are football clubs, both professional and amateur. As for the extraordinary congress (KLB), there were only 87 voters out of the 1,093 members.

This consisted of 34 PSSI Asprov, 18 Liga 1 clubs, 16 Liga 2 clubs and three associations under the auspices of the PSSI to elect Exco members, consisting of one chairman, two deputies and 12 members.

KOMPAS

Erick Thohir registered to become a candidate for General Chair of PSSI on Sunday (15/1/2023)..

In total, five candidates are being considered for the chairman post, with 20 prospective candidates for deputy chairman and 85 prospective members of PSSI Exco 2022-2023.

PSSI Exco has the responsibility of making decisions during congresses, appointing PSSI committees, accepting or rejecting PSSI membership applications, determining the implementation and rules of professional competition, approving PSSI’s internal organizational regulations and appointing the head coach of the national team.

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Like Amir, PSSI deputy chairman Iwan Budianto and president of Madura United Achsanul Qosasih also rejected their candidacies as prospective PSSI management candidates proposed by PSSI members. They did not return the candidacy confirmation form until the end of the registration period.

“I asked the PSSI Election Committee to remove my name from the list of candidates for the PSSI Executive Committee for the 2023-2027 period,” said Iwan.

Achsanul also hoped that the Election Committee would comply with the PSSI Statutes in determining candidates for the PSSI Exco. “Those who do not meet the requirements should not be approved, while those who do meet the requirements should not be rejected,” he said.

Youth and Sports Minister registers

Youth and Sports Minister Zainudin Amali stated that he was willing to be proposed as a candidate for PSSI deputy chairman. Zainudin admitted he was supported by several Asprov and clubs participating in the league.

“I thought [about it] and discussed it with several people. To fix the management of national soccer, I need to be there [in PSSI]. Because I am a minister, I had asked the President for permission first and was given the green light,” said Zainudin.

In the [PSSI] Statute, there is no prohibition on the positions they hold

Zainudin revealed that he had registered as a candidate for deputy chairman as many had already signed up for PSSI chairman. “I am prepared to help whoever will be appointed the new chairman of PSSI. I did not sign up with a partner in mind,” he said.

When asked about the potential for State-Owned Enterprises (SOE) Minister Erick Thohir to become PSSI chairman and Youth and Sports Minister Zainudin Amali to become PSSI deputy chairman, Amir that that the two of them did not need to resign from their ministerial positions if elected at the 2023 PSSI extraordinary congress.

“In the [PSSI] Statute, there is no prohibition on the positions they hold,” said Amir.

This article was translated by Kesya Adhalia.