PSSI Chairman Speaks About Release Of Players To The U-23 Indonesian National Team

JAKARTA - PSSI General Chairperson (Ketum), Erick Thohir, spoke about the club's permission for players called the U-23 Indonesian national team.

Indra Sjafri's team is known to be appearing in the 2024 U-23 Asian Cup which is not included in the FIFA agenda.

Given that the status of the tournament is not the official FIFA agenda, there are a number of Indonesian clubs who are reluctant to release players. The reason is, in the same midway, Liga 1 2023/2024 has entered a crucial weekend at the end of the season.

Erick Thohir has his own views on the issue of the permit. He submitted that this matter could be discussed internally and in a family manner by PT Liga Indonesia Baru (LIB) as the operator of the competition and each club.

"I think that (the permit issue) is internal to the discussion between LIB and the club. We from PSSI will just have to sit down who is available (player) because it was his decision at LIB and the club," said Erick Thohir when met in the Central Jakarta area on Thursday, March 14, 2024.

In early March 2024, Liga 1 2023/2024 removed the regulation of U-23 players to smooth the permits for clubs to release their players to defend the Indonesian national team.

Previously, it was known that a number of clubs, such as Persija Jakarta, Borneo FC, and PSS Sleman expressed objections to releasing players given the importance of competition.

After the issuance of the regulation, the club is expected to make a wise choice. If later there are still clubs that are reluctant to let players defend the U-23 Indonesian national team, Erick Thohir will take a middle ground by holding further talks between LIB and the club.

"Yes, there will be talks, the important thing is'red-White'," he said.

In the 2024 U-23 Asian Cup which was held in Qatar, Garuda Muda qualified for the first time and joined in Group A with Qatar, Australia, and Jordan.

The U-23 Indonesian national team will start the struggle in the 2024 U-23 Asian Cup against Qatar's home team on April 15, 2024. Then, they will meet Australia on April 18, 2024 and finally meet Jordan on April 21, 2024.