His election came nearly four months after a deadly stampede at Kanjuruhan Stadium, Malang, East Java province, on October 1, 2022.
At a PSSI extraordinary congress in Jakarta, Thohir won 64 votes, while his contender, LaNyalla Mattalitti, who is the Regional Representatives Council (DPD) head, secured 22 votes.
After his election as PSSI chairperson, Thohir, former Inter Milan owner, said that Indonesian football should become "clean" first before talking about achievements.
"It is impossible for us to talk about achievement if football itself is not clean. And it is not easy," he told reporters.
He then asked all stakeholders in national football to drum up the courage to clean their institution.
Thohir is a businessperson and entrepreneur. He formed Mahaka Group, an Indonesian media and entertainment company, which also owns and operates a number of printed newspaper and magazines.
Thohir's role in sports started in 2011 when he became part of the consortia that bought the NBA team, Philadelphia 76ers.
In addition to his business, Thohir also owns basketball team Satria Muda and served as an honorary board member of the Indonesian Basketball Association (PERBASI) from 2015 to 2019.
He has been president of the Southeast Asian Basketball Association (SEABA) since 2006.
He has also served as a FIBA board member, chef de mission of the Indonesian contingent for the Olympic Games London 2012, and chairperson of the National Olympic Committee for the 2015–2019 period.
He shares ownership of Oxford United with Anindya Bakrie and Persis Solo in the Indonesian League Liga 1 with one of President Joko Widodo's sons.
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Translator: Shofi Ayudiana
Editor: Tia Mutiasari
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