Once again, the government cannot meddle in anything related to the PSSI extraordinary congress that will elect its chiefJakarta (ANTARA) - The government will not intervene in the All Indonesia Football Association (PSSI) congress to be held on Saturday, November 2, President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has assured. "Once again, the government cannot meddle in anything related to the PSSI extraordinary congress that will elect its chief," he said during a weekly discussion with journalists at the Merdeka Palace in Jakarta Friday.
PSSI is set to hold its congress on Saturday to elect its general chief.
He paid special attention to the development of Indonesian football, the President said.
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"When I introduced the newly-inducted youth and sports minister, I reminded him of football, and football," he said.
The President had appointed Golkar Party politician Zainudin Amali as the youth and sports minister on October 23, 2019.
"The FIFA statute does not allow (the government to intervene in) it. We only hope that the PSSI general chief elected at the congress will really have good integrity and bring about progress to national football," he said.
Moreover, Indonesia will be hosting the U-20 World Cup in 2021, he said.
"I have ordered the minister to begin serious preparations for it from now," he said.
The ministry must make long preparations for the U-20 World Cup, he said.
Eleven people have been nominated for the PSSI general chief for the 2019-2023 period. They are Arif Wicaksono, Aven Hinelo, Bernhard Limbong, Benny Erwin, Fary Djemy Francis, La Nyalla Mattalitti, Mochamad Iriawan, Rahim Soekasah, Sarman El Hakim, Vijaya Fitriyasa, and Yesayas Oktavianus.
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Translator: Desca Lidya Natalia/Suharto
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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