PSSI's Reason for appointing Japanese referee to lead Super League

JAKARTA - The Chairman of the PSSI Referee Committee, Yoshimi Ogawa, revealed the reason for appointing Japanese referee, Yudai Yamamoto, as a permanent referee to serve in the 2025/2026 Super League.

Ogawa ensured that Yudai was appointed based on objective assessment not because the two were both from Japan. The reason is, besides Yamamoto, there are referees from other countries such as Singapore and Uzbekistan.

"It's true that we invite foreign referees from other countries. They are still FIFA referees and are busy leading AFC and FIFA tournaments as well as their own leagues."

"That's why we asked him (Yudai Yamamoto) to be the referee because he had to remove their FIFA badge," Ogawa said at a press conference in Jakarta, quoted Tuesday, December 23, 2025.

Choosing Yudai, according to Ogawa, is also based on the referee's experience and work record. Yudai himself is a high-quality referee with experience since 2008, received a FIFA license in 2011 and his experience serving in League 1 in 2017.

"In 2008 he moved up to the 1st Class of Japanese League referees and was registered as a FIFA referee in 2011. He has also been a JFA professional referee since 2015, but left Japan and settled in Indonesia," said Ogawa.

After being officially appointed as a permanent foreign referee in the Super League, Yamamoto will be effective as of January 1, 2026. He will lead in the second round and is projected in the first round of the 2026/2027 Super League.

With his new assignment, Yamamoto emphasized that he would maximize his performance. He even did not rule out the possibility of sharpening his Indonesian language skills, including rude words.

"As a referee, of course, if you get inappropriate words, you have the potential to be punished. From me, it is a must to learn Indonesian to maintain order," he said.