Chairperson of the Indonesian Football Federation (PSSI) Erick Thohir at the Presidential Staff Office in Jakarta on April 10, 2023. (ANTARA/Desca Lidya N/rst)
This audit is crucial to find clarity and improve our financial management.Jakarta (ANTARA) – Following a visit by Ernst & Young auditors to the Indonesian Football Federation’s (PSSI’s) office on Wednesday morning, PSSI chairperson Erick Thohir ordered the association to disclose all financial data to the financial audit firm.
Three auditors from Ernst & Young went to the PSSI office as part of the first steps to explore plans to carry out a forensic audit of PSSI's financial records. As soon as they arrived, the auditors dug up preliminary information from PSSI's financial manager.
"This is proof of my seriousness in leading the organization and our football league. At the early step, we start at PSSI since this is the main organization where we can trace from rules, policies, relationships between institutions, forms cooperation, and the financial structure," he informed according to information posted on PSSI's official website.
In addition, Thohir ordered PSSI's secretary general to open all data, especially from the finance department, so that it can be audited optimally.
Earlier, on April 21, 2023, he appointed Ernst & Young to conduct a forensic audit of the national football federation's finances. Both parties signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) the same day.
As per the MoU, during the first stage, both parties will review the plan to carry out a forensic audit of PSSI's financial records, he said.
Therefore, during the initial meeting, the auditors asked for data covering legal entities, the organizational structure of PSSI, financial reports from 2017 to 2023, financial transactions, the accounting system used, the allocation of the use of funding sources from the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) and International Federation of Association Football (FIFA), as well as the relationship between cooperation with League 1 and League 2 operator, namely PT Liga Indonesia Baru (PT LIB), he informed.
"This audit is crucial to find clarity and improve our financial management. Football belongs to the people. Therefore, we have the responsibility to come clean and transparent to the people. I do not want people to blame each other," Thohir emphasized.
The idea to conduct a financial audit for PSSI and PT LIB emerged after a polemic arose regarding the prize money for the 2022/2023 League 1 champion.
Even though all clubs agreed there would be no prize money after the 2018 season, Thohir on April 19 said he would give a prize money of Rp2 billion to PSM Makassar as the 2022/2023 League 1 champion.
He then expressed his desire to carry out a financial audit of the federation and PT LIB.
Related news: PSSI chairperson consoles football players not chosen for SEA Games
Related news: PSSI, BPJS Ketenagakerjaan provide social protection to referees
Related news: Indonesia avoids FIFA's heavy sanctions in U-20 World Cup fiasco
Translator: A Rauf Andar A, Resinta SEditor: Azis Kurmala Copyright © ANTARA 2023
