La Nyalla: Naturalization Is No Longer A Matter Of Halal And Haram In Football

La Nyalla Mahmud Mattalitti (Photo: Special)

JAKRTA - The player naturalization program for the U-19 Indonesia national team squad at the 2021 U-20 World Cup continues to receive the spotlight. This plan has received criticism from many parties because it is considered not appreciating the potential of young Indonesian players.

As is known, there are five Brazilian players who are rumored to be naturalized. They are temporarily "entrusted" to the League 1 club. Pro contracts certainly burst.

Former Chairman of PSSI, La Nyalla Mahmud Mattalitti, said that nationalism is now associated with humanism. So according to La Nyalla, naturalization is no longer a matter of halal or haram in the world of sports. "So that it shouldn't be a controversy. Only, there must be relevance," said La Nyalla in a written statement.

"This means that the naturalization that comes from the initiative of the federation, is only relevant if the player has a historical connection or bloodline," continued the man who is also the Chairman of the DPD RI.

The former head of the PSSI National Team Agency added that PSSI must hear public opinion. He considered, PSSI must consider the relevance factor related to the plan to naturalize the five young Brazilian players

"I heard that five young players from Brazil who are currently entrusted to play in a number of clubs in Indonesia are PSSI's initiative. So, we must consider the relevance factor earlier," he said.

Referring to the FIFA Statute regarding the FIFA Eligibility Rules in article 7, the five Brazilian players who will be naturalized for the U-20 World Cup do not fulfill any of the four requirements for the relevance of naturalization.

The four conditions are the player born in the country concerned, or one of the player's biological parents born in that country, or the player's grandparents born in that country, and / or the player has lived in the country for five years, starting from the time he reaches 18. year.