Inp.polri.go.id - Kudus.  Erick Thohir will end his dual role as Chairman of both the Indonesian Football Association (PSSI) and its Referee Committee, in compliance with a directive from FIFA that prohibits the PSSI chairperson from holding both positions.

“Why did I take the role in the first place? Who would dare try to bribe me? But even so, FIFA has warned that starting next year, this is no longer allowed,” he said on Saturday (12/7/2025) at Supersoccer Arena in Kudus, Central java.

Chairman Erick said that his dual position was only temporary, aimed at directly overseeing the reform of Indonesia’s refereeing system. The position will soon be taken over by Yoshimi Ogawa, a representative from the Japan Football Association (JFA), who has been working with PSSI since 2023 under a technical cooperation agreement.

“Ogawa’s first year leading the referee committee in Indonesia will surely be stressful—he’s still unfamiliar with our football landscape,” he added. To ensure a smooth transition, Ogawa will continue to be accompanied during the handover period.

Under Chairman Erick’s leadership, refereeing reform has become one of PSSI’s top priorities, with a focus on building a professional and transparent referee development and oversight system to restore public trust in national football.

(mg/inp/pr/rs)