CNN Indonesia
Thursday, 28 Sep 2023 03:04 IWST
Erick Thohir asked that football not be mixed with politics. (CNN Indonesia/Adhi Wicaksono)
Jakarta, CNN Indonesia —
PSSI General Chair Erick Thohir reiterated that he was only focused on managing the federation rather than political issues that related to him.
In recent times the public has increasingly asked Erick Thohir not to leave PSSI. The reason is that it is widely heard that Erick will run as a candidate for vice president of the Republic of Indonesia.
“Well, don’t mix football with politics. We have said several times that my job as chairman of PSSI is until 2027, unless media friends don’t like it,” said Erick, Wednesday (27/9).
“There’s nothing wrong with Exco dropping me. But my job is until 2027. I don’t like sports being mixed up with politics. They each have their duties,” he explained.
The man who also serves as Minister of BUMN said that if he really wanted to enter politics, he already had a lot of momentum. But that was never done.
“If at that time I wanted to be a girl in football, why didn’t Persija win, I became Governor of DKI, or at the Asian Games why didn’t I become Minister of Youth and Sports,” said Erick.
“And I have been in the world of sports much longer than I have been a public official. Because I never position myself as a politician, I work as a public service officer,” added Erick.
Erick Thohir has started leading PSSI since February 2023. He replaced Mochamad Iriawan who did not complete his term of office after the Kanjuruhan tragedy.
During Erick’s leadership at PSSI, a number of breakthroughs were presented. The public felt that Erick’s breakthrough was satisfactory, so he was asked not to leave PSSI.
(abs/sry)
