Government Minister Erick Thohir named new Chairman of the Football Association of Indonesia 

Erick Thohir, Indonesia's Minister of State Owned Enterprises and a former Chairman of Inter Milan, has been named new Chairman of the Football Association of Indonesia (PSSI).

With Indonesian football having been plagues by mismanagement, match-fixing scandals, crowd trouble and allegations of corruption over decades, Thohir’s appointment is seen as a positive step within the country but may see PSSI conflict again with world football governing body FIFA.

Despite its close relationship with governments, FIFA does not allow governmental interference in nations’ football associations, having suspended Zimbabwe's and Kenya's memberships over the issue just last year.

It has also previously suspended Indonesia over the issue, with its last ban lifted in 2017.

Thohir’s appointment comes at a time when Indonesia’s most popular sport faces a series of challenges following the deaths of 135 people were killed in Malang, East Java in October last year after a pitch invasion.

Commenting on the appointment, former Indonesian national football player and retired coach Djadjang Nurdjaman told CNA that he believes in Thohir’s capabilities, commenting "Erick Tohir is very experienced in the world of football, and he has good intentions to clean it up.”

Thorir, who was majority owner of Italian football giants Inter Milan from 2013 to 2018 and is currently joint majority shareholder in English third-tier side Oxford United, commented “we need to ensure our sport is clean and triumphant.”

After the announcement, local media quoted Indonesian President Joko Widodo as saying he hoped the Thorir would “totally reform” Indonesian football.

Thorir is the founder of Mahaka Group, a conglomerate that focuses on media, sport and entertainment. 

Image: Erick Thohir. Credit: Facebook/Erick Thohir.