Erick Thohir as Minister of State-Owned Enterprises (BUMN) explained that FIFA President Gianni Infantino would visit Indonesia in the near future.
According to news circulating, FIFA is ready to come on October 18.
The FIFA President is scheduled to meet with Indonesian President Joko Widodo (Jokowi).
Based on information compiled by SportReviews from various sources, the FIFA President will come to oversee the transformation of national football.
“On October 18, the President of FIFA will be here (Indonesia) to meet with the President of the Republic of Indonesia Joko Widodo to agree on several things and we hope that the meeting will produce good results,” said Erick Thohir.
The former president of Inter Milan said that FIFA will also have an office in Indonesia to ensure the transformation process of Indonesian football can run optimally.
However, Erick has not been able to confirm the length of time FIFA has been based in Indonesia.
“I don’t know how long, as long as the transformation they form has been going on, then they go away, it could be three months, six months, or forever,” said Erick.
He assessed that the good intentions of FIFA and the Indonesian government in improving Indonesian football should be appreciated.
He considered this a golden opportunity for Indonesia to improve the governance of Indonesian football.
This effort, said Erick, requires the support of all parties, starting from the club, supporters, security, and television stations.
“If we want transformation, this must be comprehensive. This is a heartbreaking tragedy that erodes our hearts, it must not happen again. This is a very heavy lesson for Indonesian football and the nation,” said Erick.
Erick reminded that the Kanjuruhan Tragedy should not be repeated in any sporting event.
Therefore, Indonesia must learn lessons from the tragedy and make it a momentum for improving football governance in this country.
Earlier on Wednesday (5/10) Erick had a direct meeting with Infantino in Doha, Qatar.
FIFA stated its readiness to assist the Indonesian government in transforming football.
According to Erick, Infantino admitted that he was devastated by the Kanjuruhan Tragedy.
The Swiss-Italian nationality has had a positive impression of football since he was a child, but this is very different from what happened in Kanjuruhan.
“The FIFA president told that when he was a child his parents invited his parents to watch football, it was a great joy, but imagine Erick, if the joy that should have happened is actually what we are experiencing now,” concluded Erick Thohir, summarized by SportReviews from the Borneo News page.
