August 1, 2026 | 12:19 am
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Football Association of Indonesia (PSSI) Chairperson Erick Thohir defended FIFA amid controversy over the proposed FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), saying the world football governing body's support has been crucial to the development of Indonesian football.
"Our football has achieved many of its current successes because the public, the government, and FIFA have worked together. We should be grateful, especially to FIFA," Erick told reporters in Jakarta on Friday.
He recalled FIFA's support for Indonesia following the deadly Kanjuruhan Stadium disaster in Malang, East Java, in October 2022, which prompted concerns that Indonesia could face severe sanctions.
According to Erick, close coordination between the government, the public, and FIFA helped Indonesia avoid harsher consequences and ensured that domestic football activities could continue.
"Without an agreement at that time, we might not have had a national team or a football league as we do today," he said.
Erick also highlighted FIFA's long-term commitment to Indonesian football, including the establishment of a FIFA office in Indonesia and annual funding for football development programs.
He said FIFA organizes between 13 and 15 football development programs in Indonesia each year, investing around US$1 million to US$2 million annually to support those initiatives.
The remarks came as FIFA faces criticism over the proposed FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), a plan that would establish a private subsidiary to manage and potentially sell equity in the commercial rights of FIFA competitions, including the World Cup.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino stressed that the proposal is voluntary and remains under consultation with member associations.
"FFE is essentially a proposal, an offer. It is part of a democratic process, a consultation process, and most importantly, it is an opportunity, not an obligation," Infantino said.
He described the plan to create a private subsidiary to manage FIFA's commercial rights as a significant opportunity to accelerate football development worldwide.
However, Infantino reiterated that the proposal is not mandatory and that FIFA member associations are under no obligation to support or adopt it.
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