Indonesia’s PSSI backs FIFA’s controversial World Cup proposal

4 hours ago

Jakarta (ANTARA) – The Indonesian Football Association (PSSI) has voiced support for FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), a contentious proposal to privatize stakes in the World Cup, with chairman Erick Thohir citing FIFA’s longstanding support for Indonesian football.

“Our football has achieved significant progress thanks to the concerted efforts of the public, the government, and FIFA. We must be grateful for this, especially to FIFA,” he told reporters in Jakarta on Friday.

Thohir, who also serves as youth and sports minister, argued that Indonesia owes FIFA for supporting the country’s football development after the deadly Kanjuruhan Stadium tragedy in Malang, East Java, in 2022.

The PSSI chairman stressed that Indonesia could have faced severe sanctions had the association failed to reach an understanding with FIFA.

Bearing that in mind, Thohir reiterated that government and public support, combined with constructive communication with FIFA, had been decisive in sustaining Indonesian football’s growth in recent years.

“If there had been no agreement at the time, perhaps we would not have a national team and football competitions like we do today,” he said.

Thohir also commended FIFA for its continued commitment to Indonesian football, noting that the world governing body had established a regional office in Jakarta and invested in football development programs.

He added that FIFA organizes up to 15 activities annually in Indonesia, supported by approximately US$2 million in funding.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino sought to address criticism surrounding the proposal to establish FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), a subsidiary that would manage the commercial rights and operations of FIFA competitions.

“FFE is actually a proposal, an offer. It’s part of a democratic process—a consultation process—and, above all, it is an opportunity, not an obligation,” Infantino said in a video released on Tuesday (July 28).

He described FFE as a private entity designed to oversee the commercial rights of FIFA competitions, including the World Cup, with the aim of accelerating football development worldwide.

FIFA said that creating FFE would consolidate the commercial rights associated with its competitions, including broadcasting, sponsorship, licensing, ticketing, and hospitality.

The federation added that the proposal would proceed only with majority approval from its 211 member associations and if the FIFA Council approves the required regulatory updates after the consultation process launched on July 28 concludes.