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Erick outlines plan to fight match fixing, form hooliganism committee
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Soccer Association of Indonesia (PSSI) chairman Erick Thohir (left) takes a picture with his deputy, Zainudin Amali (center), and National Police chief Gen. Listyo Sigit Prabowo after a press conference on law enforcement against match fixing in Indonesian soccer at Gelora Bung Karno sports complex in Senayan, Central Jakarta, on February 20, 2023. The National Police have committed to supporting PSSI to eliminate mafia practices by preparing a soccer anti-mafia task force. (Courtesy of PSSI/-)
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ppearing in his capacity as a newly elected chairman of the Soccer Association of Indonesia (PSSI) on Sunday, Erick Thohir outlined his ambitious goal to completely eradicate match fixing in Indonesia, taking the fight to the soccer mafia, which has taken root in the country’s soccer system.
“[Match fixing] has long been a parasite that brings shame to Indonesia. It’s not just a thorn in domestic leagues, but has also affected matches involving the national team, which has besmirched our country’s reputation,” Erick said.
The States-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) Minister added that PSSI would inflict a lifetime ban from all football-related activities on anyone found to have been involved in the scheme.
Soccer mafias have been a constant presence in the country’s lower leagues, with East Java Police arresting four people in connection with match fixing in Liga 3 in 2022, the third tier of Indonesia’s soccer league system. But in 2010, the national team was suspected of throwing a match against Malaysia in the first leg of 2010 AFF Cup final, although it was never proven.
Given the enormity of the undertaking, Erick has enlisted the help of the police in forming an anti-soccer mafia task force consisting of 15 regional teams across Indonesia.
This is not the first time the police have formed such a team, with National Police chief Gen. Listyo Sigit Prabowo explaining that the previous task force uncovered 18 match-fixing scandals from 2018 until 2020.
Using technology and resources provided by soccer's global governing-body FIFA, including information on how to analyze betting markets to find indications of manipulation, Erick said he hoped to implement his plan by next season. Youth and Sports Minister Zainuddin Amali, appearing in his capacity as the government’s representative and not as PSSI deputy chairman, said that the government would fully support the PSSI.
