All I got was a page saying connection refused, what is it?
One of the richest families in Indonesia plans to expand its football interests in Europe with a spokesman for the influential Bakrie clan confirming that it was in investment talks with a professional club in Belgium.
Iman Arif said on Thursday that while the Bakries had their sights on a Belgian team, he denied a media report stating they were keen to purchase a club in Australia’s top-flight A-League.
“We are still assessing the possibility of investing in a club in Belgium. We’re in talks with several clubs in the top league there,†Iman said.
“We’re looking to Belgium because it’s one of the European countries that has flexible immigration rules. We’re still undecided on whether we will buy a majority stake or not.â€
In November, the Bakrie family secured a minority stake in English Championship club Leicester City.
Iman did not specify which Belgian club the family was interested in, although it is believed the Bakries were in discussion with Anderlecht, winner of 30 championships and the country’s most successful club.
“I’m not in a position to name the club. Let the club announce the deal when it pushes through,†Iman said.
On Thursday, the Sydney Morning Herald reported that Aburizal Bakrie, chairman of the Golkar Party, was interested in buying Australian side Central Coast Mariners.
Iman said that Aburizal’s intention was “to begin a cooperation with the club.â€
“We just want to set up a program where we can exchange players with Australian clubs in order to boost player development,†he said.
Iman said the aim of the Bakries’ involvement in overseas leagues was not primarily to make money.
“We want to give Indonesian players a chance to play in the best leagues, such as England and maybe Belgium. We want to help football development in the country,†said Iman, who also acts as the deputy chairman for technical affairs at the Indonesian Football Association’s (PSSI) National Team Body (BTN).
Aburizal’s younger brother, Nirwan Dermawan Bakrie, is the PSSI’s vice chairman and the head of the BTN.
The Bakries also own Indonesian Super League club Pelita Jaya.
Through Cronus Sports Management, the family was able to secure a minority stake in Leicester City.
Leicester was bought by Asia Football Investments, headed by Thai businessman Aiyawatt Raksriaksorn, reportedly for 40 million pounds ($64 million). Cronus is said to have paid eight million pounds for a 20 percent stake in the club.
Outside of football, the Bakries also own Pelita Jaya Esia, which plays in the National Basketball League.