TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Chairperson of the Indonesian Football Association (PSSI) Erick Thohir reminded supporters once again not to act discriminately when supporting the Indonesian national team against the Chinese national team in the 2026 World Cup qualification match in Group C of the Asian zone at the Gelora Bung Karno Main Stadium (SUGBK) in Jakarta on Thursday, June 5, 2025.
Erick emphasized that the supporters must show that Indonesia is not a discriminatory nation. "We hope our supporters will represent our nation. We are not a nation that tolerates discrimination," he said in Jakarta on Wednesday.
Erick continued by stating that Indonesian supporters can show sportsmanship, as they did when the Garuda team hosted Saudi Arabia, Japan, and Australia in Jakarta. "When we hosted Saudi Arabia, Japan, and Australia, there were so many supporters who welcomed the visiting teams with open arms. Their hospitality was greatly appreciated," said Erick.
Erick also advised netizens who support the Garuda team to remain sportsmanlike. "Hopefully, our netizens will uphold the image of our nation that we have always known. After all, Indonesia is a friendly country that loves to smile," said Erick.
Earlier this week, the PSSI Chairperson had warned Indonesian national team supporters not to behave in a racist manner when supporting the Garuda team against the Chinese national team on Thursday night. Erick stated that Indonesia must be a good host.
"We also hope that incidents like the recent FIFA warning due to discrimination, such as racism or xenophobia, will not happen again. It's a shame because it attracts attention. I repeatedly emphasize that there should be no discrimination in football, whether against foreign national teams or our own," said Erick.
The statement referred to the actions of some supporters believed to be displaying excessive hatred (xenophobia) during the match between Indonesia and Bahrain. As a result, FIFA fined Indonesia approximately Rp400 million and sanctioned the country with a 15 percent reduction in the number of spectators for the match against the Chinese national team.
The 2026 World Cup qualification match in Group C of the Asian zone between Indonesia and China is scheduled on Thursday at 8:45 p.m. local time at the Gelora Bung Karno Main Stadium in Jakarta. Erick mentioned that approximately 3,000 supporters of the Chinese National Team will watch the match live at SUGBK. Additionally, representatives from the Chinese government were present to witness the match.
The position of the Indonesian national team in the current standings is better than that of the Chinese national team. Indonesia is in fourth place with 9 points, while China is in sixth place with 6 points.
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