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PSSI to hold extraordinary congress to regain trust
The Soccer Association of Indonesia (PSSI), which is led by acting chief Joko Driyono, has decided to hold an extraordinary meeting with two items on the agenda, namely forming selection and appeal selection committees and electing new PSSI management board members
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span>The Soccer Association of Indonesia (PSSI), which is led by acting chief Joko Driyono, has decided to hold an extraordinary meeting with two items on the agenda, namely forming selection and appeal selection committees and electing new PSSI management board members.
“In the light of upholding our commitment to our professional league commercial partners and to be able to serve future programs, the PSSI will soon deploy representatives to FIFA headquarters in Zurich to seek consultations,” Joko said in a statement on pssi.org on Tuesday night.
PSSI executive committee member Gusti Randa said the extraordinary meeting was the organization’s response to public criticism that had demanded an overhaul of the organization following the arrest of several PSSI senior members over match-fixing allegations.
He said the congress would start with the nomination of the selection and appeal selection committee members in May. The selection committee will be tasked with furnishing names for board positions in four weeks time.
“We are trying to respond to public concerns; therefore organizing an extraordinary meeting is unavoidable. Through this process, we hope to have a new PSSI management board around July or August,” Gusti told The Jakarta Post on Wednesday.
He went on to name people such as television journalist Najwa Shihab, coordinator of Save Our Soccer Akmal Marhali and deputy chief of the police’s match-fixing task force Brig. Gen Krishna Murti as among those deemed fit to lead the organization given their criticism of soccer management.
“These names have contributed to the PSSI from outside. They have been very insightful and also possess decent track records. I hope voting members will consider them,” he said.
Commenting on his name being mentioned, Akmal said he had no ambition to lead the PSSI, at least not in this fashion.
“Right now, realistically speaking, what is needed the most from a chief candidate figure is his or her financial readiness. The candidate must be ready to pay in advance for the support. This is just the way things work inside the PSSI now and this is no secret,” he said.
Akmal added that once a new chief was appointed, the main focus would be on how to cover the financial costs accrued and not on soccer management.
“This organization desperately needs total reform, including the current mindset that requires money at every level,” he said.
The PSSI has been urged to immediately organize the extraordinary meeting following the massive police investigation into match-fixing allegations that have seen 15 suspects named, with the latest one being Joko himself.
Joko was named a suspect following statements by three other suspects, namely, Abdul Gafur, Musmuliadi, both helpers at the office of soccer team Persija and Muhammad Dani, Joko’s driver. Joko has been accused of instructing the three to destroy evidence stored at the PSSI’s disciplinary committee. The evidence was pivotal for the police in their investigation into the match-fixing cases.
Previously, head of the PSSI’s West Java branch Tommy Apriantono had also suggested an immediate congress to discuss the sporting body’s future responsibilities and challenges.
