Jakarta. The Indonesian Football Association (PSSI) has terminated 44 employees in recent weeks as part of a crackdown on corruption and backward-looking culture within the organization, PSSI Chairman Erick Thohir said on Tuesday.

Erick clarified that the sweeping changes are aimed at ridding Indonesian football of unethical behavior such as match-fixing, while fostering a culture that propels the national team to higher success.

Speaking at a news conference in Jakarta, Erick described the "cleanup campaign" as a multi-phase effort that spans the national team, domestic leagues, and PSSI’s internal workings.

“Praise be to God, in my first year as chairman, we succeeded in cleaning up the national team, reshaping its mindset, and improving the system -- results that are now bearing fruit,” Erick said.

“In the second phase, we revamped the competition to ensure that Liga 1 is now free from match-fixing scandals. Anyone attempting to drag us back to old habits will face severe consequences,” he added.

The dismissal of 44 PSSI employees is a crucial step towards transforming the association into a professional and transparent body, Erick noted.

“PSSI is at the heart of Indonesian football, and that’s why the entire executive committee and I are committed to making the necessary changes to improve the organization and promote transparent management,” Erick stated.

“The decision to let these employees go was not made lightly -- it followed thorough assessments conducted by a competent HR team.”

Erick explained that each employee underwent an individual evaluation by the HR team as part of the reform efforts. Additionally, a recent audit uncovered several instances of misconduct by PSSI officials.

“I will not tolerate the misuse of PSSI assets for personal gain. We also discovered kickback schemes in certain PSSI-organized events. I need everyone’s support to carry out a comprehensive reform in Indonesian football,” Erick told reporters.