Indonesia confused over Argentina’s confirmation of friendly match

The AFA announced the fixture on its official website on May 22, but PSSI president Erick Thohir said he knows nothing about the confirmation, while Arya Sinulingga, a member of PSSI’s board of directors, told CNN Indonesia, “We can’t guarantee anything as there is no official decision.”

Argentina said that it will play two friendlies on a tour of Asia in June. The 2022 World Cup winners will play Australia on June 15 before facing Indonesia four days later.

So far, Indonesia have only confirmed a friendly with Palestine on June 14. The U22 team will also play a friendly with South Korean club Jeonbuk Huyndai Motors on June 17.

According to CNN Indonesia, the two football associations have failed to agree on some terms such as the location, and whether superstar Lionel Messi would be involved. Gelora Bung Karno is Indonesia’s biggest stadium with a capacity of 80,000.

Indonesian sports newspaper Bola said PSSI has spent $5 million on the plan to invite Argentina to play a friendly, with financial support from its president Thohir, who used to be president of Italian club Inter Milan.