Sports Federations Dominated by Businesspeople and Retired Officers, Meritocracy at Stake

The chairmanship of several Indonesian sports federations has come under scrutiny again after criticism circulated on social media over the backgrounds of their leaders, most of whom come from business circles and retired TNI/Polri officers. The phenomenon is seen as reflecting weak cadre-building and governance in the country's sports organizations.

Among the names that have emerged are Anindya Bakrie at Akuatik Indonesia, Rosan Perkasa Roeslani at PB PABSI, Erick Thohir, who concurrently serves as PSSI Chairman and Minister of Youth and Sports, Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan at PB PASI, Army Chief of Staff Maruli Simanjuntak at the All-Indonesia Judo Association, Purwoko Aji Prabowo at Modern Pentathlon Indonesia, retired Police Commissioner General Fadil Imran at PBSI, and Muhammad Herindra at PB ESI. This composition raises questions over whether federation leadership is determined more by proximity to power than by competence in the relevant sport.

Sports observer and PSSI Media Director for 2017-2020, Gatot Widakdo, said the ideal chairman should master organizational management while also understanding the ins and outs of the sport they lead. However, he cautioned that such an ideal condition is difficult to achieve without government support. "If our nation wants to be known in the world through sports, the government must be willing to go the extra mile and prepare funding for sports too," he said when contacted on Wednesday (23/9/2026).

Gatot said federations have so far been required to finance their own operations because of limited state funds. Allocations from the state budget, including those managed by Kemenpora, are considered insignificant for the needs of sports development. As a result, many federations rely on the personal pockets of their officials or corporate sponsors. Such a scheme does close funding gaps, but it opens the risk of conflicts of interest and weak public accountability.

"If we want to be ideal, if we are talking about ideal, then the government should really help sports," Gatot said, stressing the need for serious state involvement.

As an alternative, he proposed appointing state-owned enterprises as permanent partners for each federation, mimicking the partnership model between BRI and PSSI. This model is seen as capable of guaranteeing funding continuity while strengthening governance if accompanied by strict oversight mechanisms. However, without a clear regulatory framework, such partnerships could become a venue for dividing up positions and projects.

For readers in Indonesia, especially market players and professionals, this issue is not merely an internal matter for sports organizations. Poor federation governance affects the investment climate in the sports sector, from broadcasting rights and sponsorship to event organization. Leadership uncertainty and a lack of transparency can reduce the trust of business partners, ultimately eroding the economic potential of national sports.

Moreover, the dominance of non-sports figures in the chairman's seat reflects weak meritocracy within the organizations. Ideally, federations should have an open selection mechanism based on track record and a development vision, not merely proximity to power or the ability to donate funds. Without systemic improvement, athletes' achievements at the international level will continue to depend on luck and the personal commitment of a select few.

Going forward, the public is waiting to see whether the government will revise the sports funding framework and push for more professional federation governance. The question is whether Indonesia can build a clean and sustainable sports ecosystem, or whether the chairman's post will remain an elite domain far from the spirit of meritocracy?